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〃Because it has now done its work； whatever it was； and he wants to
wash his hands of the passage。 He'd throw the passage away if he could。
I don't think it matters much one way or another； and I don't suppose
there's anything to find in the cupboard； but I feel that we must look。〃
〃Do you still think Mark's body might be there？〃
〃No。 And yet where else can it be？ Unless I'm hopelessly wrong；
and Cayley never killed him at all。〃
Bill hesitated； wondering if he dare advance his theory。
〃I know you'll think me an ass …〃
〃My dear Bill； I'm such an obvious ass myself that I should be
delighted to think you are too。〃
〃Well； then； suppose Mark did kill Robert； and Cayley helped him to
escape； just as we thought at first。 I know you proved afterwards that it
was impossible； but suppose it happened in a way we don't know about
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and for reasons we don't know about。 I mean； there are such a lot of
funny things about the whole show that … well； almost anything might
have happened。〃
〃You're quite right。 Well？〃
〃Well； then； this clothes business。 Doesn't that seem rather to bear
out the escaping theory？ Mark's brown suit was known to the police。
Couldn't Cayley have brought him another one in the passage； to escape in；
and then have had the brown one on his hands？ And thought it safest to
hide it in the pond？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Anthony thoughtfully。 Then： 〃Go on。〃
Bill went on eagerly：
〃It all seems to fit in； you know。 I mean even with your first theory
that Mark killed him accidentally and then came to Cayley for help。 Of
course； if Cayley had played fair； he'd have told Mark that he had nothing
to be afraid of。 But he isn't playing fair； he wants to get Mark out of the
way because of the girl。 Well； this is his chance。 He makes Mark as
frightened as possible； and tells him that his only hope is to run away。
Well； naturally； he does all he can to get him well away； because if Mark is
caught； the whole story of Cayley's treachery comes out。〃
〃Yes。 But isn't it overdoing it rather to make him change his
underclothes and everything？ It wastes a good deal of time； you know。〃
Bill was pulled up short； and said； 〃Oh！〃 in great disappointment。
〃No； it's not as bad as that； Bill；〃 said Antony with a smile。 〃I
daresay the underclothes could be explained。 But here's the difficulty。
Why did Mark need to change from brown to blue； or whatever it was；
when Cayley was the only person who saw him in brown？〃
〃The police description of him says that he is in a brown suit。〃
〃Yes； because Cayley told the police。 You see； even if Mark had had
lunch in his brown suit； and the servants had noticed it； Cayley could
always have pretended that he had changed into blue after lunch； because
only Cayley saw him afterwards。 So if Cayley had told the Inspector that
he was wearing blue； Mark could have escaped quite comfortably in his
brown； without needing to change at all。〃
〃But that's just what he did do；〃 cried Bill triumphantly。 〃What fools
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we are！〃
Antony looked at him in surprise； and then shook his head。
〃Yes； yes！〃 insisted Bill。 〃Of course！ Don't you see？ Mark did
change after lunch； and； to give him more of a chance of getting away；
Cayley lied and said that he was wearing the brown suit in which the
servants had seen him。 Well； then he was afraid that the police might
examine Mark's clothes and find the brown suit still there； so he hid it； and
then dropped it in the pond afterwards。〃
He turned eagerly to his friend； but Antony said nothing。 Bill began
to speak again； and was promptly waved into silence。
〃Don't say anything more； old boy； you've given me quite enough to
think about。 Don't let's bother about it to…night。 We'll just have a look
at this cupboard and then get to bed。〃
But the cupboard had not much to tell them that night。 It was empty
save for a few old bottles。
〃Well； that's that；〃 said Bill。
But Antony； on his knees with the torch in his hand； continued to
search for something。
〃What are you looking for？〃 asked Bill at last。
〃Something that isn't there；〃 said Antony； getting up and dusting his
trousers。 And he locked the door again。
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CHAPTER XVIII
Guess…work
The inquest was at three o'clock； thereafter Antony could have no
claim on the hospitality of the Red House。 By ten o'clock his bag was
packed； and waiting to be taken to the 〃George。〃 To Bill； coming
upstairs after a more prolonged breakfast； this early morning bustle was a
little surprising。
〃What's the hurry？〃 he asked。
〃None。 But we don't want to come back here after the inquest。 Get
your packing over now and then we can have the morning to ourselves。〃
〃Righto。〃 He turned to go to his room； and then came back again。 〃I
say； are we going to tell Cayley that we're staying at the 'George'？〃
〃You're not staying at the 'George；' Bill。 Not officially。 You're
going back to London。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃Yes。 Ask Cayley to have your luggage sent in to Stanton； ready for
you when you catch a train there after the inquest。 You can tell him that
you've got to see the Bishop of London at once。 The fact that you are
hurrying back to London to be confirmed will make it seem more natural
that I should resume my interrupted solitude at the 'George' as soon as you
have gone。〃
〃Then where do I sleep to…night？〃
Officially； I suppose； in Fulham Place； unofficially； I suspect； in my
bed； unless they've got another spare room at the 'George。' I've put your
confirmation robe … I mean your pyjamas and brushes and things … in my
bag； ready for； you。 Is there anything else you want to know？ No？
Then go and pack。 And meet me at ten…thirty beneath the blasted oak or
in the hall or somewhere。 I want to talk and talk and talk； and I must have
my Watson。〃
〃Good；〃 said Bill； and went oil to his room。
An hour later； having communicated their official plans to Cayley；
they wandered out together into the park。
〃Well？〃 said Bill； as they sat down underneath a convenient tree。 〃Talk
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away。〃
〃I had many bright thoughts in my bath this morning；〃 began Antony。
〃The brightest one of all was that we were being damn fools； and working
at this thing from the wrong end altogether。〃
〃Well； that's helpful。〃
〃Of course it's very hampering being a detective； when you don't know
anything about detecting； and when nobody knows that you're doing
detection； and you can't have people up to cross…examine them； and you
have neither the energy nor the means to make proper inquiries； and； in
short； when you're doing the whole thing in a thoroughly amateur；
haphazard way。
〃For amateurs I don't think we're doing at all badly；〃 protested Bill。
〃No； not for amateurs。 But if we had been professionals； I believe we
should have gone at it from the other end。 The Robert end。 We've been
wondering about Mark and Cayley all the time。 Now let's wonder about
Robert for a bit。〃
〃We know so little ab