Supposing, then, that the man's tale was a concocted one, what combination of circumstances would explain his murdering Sorrel? Was it possible that he had resented his friend's departure without offering to help him, so much that he could commit murder for it? But he had Sorrell's money in his possession. If he had obtained that money before Sorrell died, he would have no reason for killing him. And if he had not, then the money would have been found in Sorrell's possession. Or suppose he had obtained the money by stealing his friend's pocketbook during that afternoon, he would still have no urge to murder, and there would have been every reason to keep away from the queue. The more Grant thought of it, the more impossible it became to invent a really good theory as to why Lamont should have murdered Sorrell. Most of all in his favour was that he should have come to so public a place as a theatre queue to expostulate with his friend about something. It was not a usual preliminary to intended murder. But perhaps the murder had not been intended. Lamont did not give the impression of a man who would intend murder for very long at a time. Had the quarrel been not over the revolver at all but about something more bitter? Was there a woman in the case after all, for instance? For no reason Grant had a momentary recollection of Lamont's face when the Dinmont girl had gone out of the room as if he was not there, and the tones of his voice when he was telling of Sorrell's suspected romance, and he dismissed that theory.
But about business? Lamont had evidently felt his comparative poverty very keenly, and had resented his friend's lack of sympathy. Was his "fed up" a euphemism for a smouldering resentment that had blazed into hatred? But — after having had two hundred and twenty-three pounds — no, of course, he didn't know about that until afterwards. That might have been true, that tale of the packet, and he had taken it for granted that it contained the expected watch. After all, one does not expect to be handed two hundred and twenty-three pounds by a departing friend whose whole fortune it is. That was possible to the point of probability. He had said goodbye, and afterwards — but what did he argue about? If he had come back to stab Sorrell, he would not have called attention to himself. And what had Sorrell intended to do? If Lamont's story were true, then the only explanation of Sorrell's conduct was intended suicide. The more Grant thought, the more certain he became that only light on Sorrell's history would elucidate the problem and prove Lamont's guilt or — incredible! — innocence. His first business when he was back in town would be to do what he had neglected in his hurry to get Lamont — find Sorrell's luggage and go through it. And if that yielded nothing, he would see Mrs. Everett again. He would like to meet Mrs. Everett once more!
He took a last look at the calmly sleeping Lamont, and said a last word to the stolidly wakeful constable, and composed himself to sleep, worried, but filled with resolution. This business was not going to be left where it was.
15 — The Brooch
After a hot bath, during which he had twiddled his toes in the wavering steam and tried to mesmerize himself into that habitually comfortable frame of mind of a detective officer who has got his man, Grant repaired to the Yard and went to interview his chief. When he came into the great man's presence Barker was complimentary.
"Congratulations, Grant!" he said. "That was very smart work altogether." And he asked for details of the capture which Grant had not, of course, included in his official report, and Grant provided him with a vivid sketch of the three days at Carninnish. The superintendent was highly amused.
"Well done!" he said. "Rather you than me. Careering across bogs was never a sport of mine. It seems you were the right man in the right place this time, Grant."
"Yes," said Grant unenthusiastically.
"You don't let your emotions run away with you, do you?" said Barker, grinning at his unsmiling face.
"Well, it's been luck, mostly, and I made one bad break."
"What was that?"
"I found out that Sorrell had really intended to go to America — at least, that he had booked a berth — and I forgot that his belongings would be lying at a terminus waiting to be examined."
"That doesn't sound a very vital mistake to me. You knew who the man was and who his friends were. What more could you find out that would help you to Lamont?"
"Nothing about Lamont. It was because I was so hard on Lamont's trail that I forgot about the luggage. But I want to know more about Sorrell. To tell you the truth," he added in a sudden burst, "I'm not very happy about this case."
Barker's jaw dropped just a little. "What's wrong?" he said. "It's the clearest case the Yard has had for some time."
"Yes; on the surface. But, if you dig a bit, there seems to be more than meets the eye."
"What do you mean? That there was more than one in it?"
"No; I mean that there's just the barest possibility that we've got the wrong one."
For a little there was silence. "Grant," said Barker at last, "I never knew you to lose your nerve before. You need a holiday. I don't think scooting across moors can be good for you. Perhaps the jogging movement is addling to the brain. You certainly have lost your critical faculty."
Grant could find nothing to say except "Well, here's the statement he gave us last night," and he handed it over. While Barker was reading it, he crossed to the window, gazed at the patch of green and the river in the sun, and wondered if he were making a complete fool of himself to be worrying when he had a good case. Well, fool or no fool, he would go along to Waterloo as soon as his chief had finished with him, and see what he could pick up there.
When Barker dropped the statement with a little flop on to the table, Grant turned eagerly to see what effect it had had on him. "Well," said that worthy, "it leaves me with a strong desire to meet Mr. Lamont."
"Why?" asked Grant.
"Because I'd like to see in person the man who tried sob-stuff on Inspector Grant and got away with it. The unimpressionable Grant!"
"That's how it strikes you, is it?" Grant said gloomily. "You don't believe a word of it?"
"Not a word," said Barker cheerfully. "It's about the thinnest story I've known put up for some time. But then I should think the man was hard put to it to find any way out of the evidence at all. He did his damnedest — I will say that for him."
"Well, look at it from the other way, and can you think of a reasonable explanation for Lamont's killing Sorrell?"
"Tut, tut, Grant, you've been at the Yard for I don't know how many years, and you're looking at this late stage for reason-able murders. You need a holiday, man. Lamont probably killed Sorrell because the way he ate had got on his nerves. Besides, it isn't any of our business to fit psychology to people or to provide motives or anything of that sort. So don't worry your head. Fit them with good watertight evidence and provide them with a cell, and that's all we have to bother about."
There was a short silence, and Grant gathered up his papers preparatory to taking his leave and getting along to Waterloo.
"Look here," said Barker out of the silence, "all joshing apart — do you believe the man didn't do it?"
"I don't see how he could not have," Grant said. "There's the evidence. I can't say why I'm uneasy about the thing, but that doesn't alter the fact that I am."