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Reeves was a little disappointed to find the assumption of Davenant's guilt so universal. People, he felt, were confoundedly illogical. He went to look for Carmichael, in the hope that he might have some new illuminating theories, but Gordon discouraged him.

"Carmichael says he's sick of the whole thing, and he's going back to golf. He speaks quite vindictively of Davenant, and really, I think, wants to see him hanged for not having been Brotherhood after all. It's an odd thing, human nature."

"Well, look here, Gordon, I've been seeing Miss Rendall-Smith, and she's been giving me a whole lot of information. Come and sit in my room for a bit, and let me get it clear; then we can think the case out all over again."

Gordon was not impressed by the recital of Miss Rendall-Smith's disclosures. "It seems to me," he said, "that every word of that makes the case against Davenant stronger instead of weaker. The one thing we had still to look for was a motive, and here's a motive ready-made. Davenant had every temptation to want Brotherhood out of the way; it would rid the world of a worm, and leave the course clear for him to marry the widow. I hope she won't go and tell all that story to the counsel for the defence."

"But what impressed me," objected Reeves, "was this⁠—nobody knew more clearly than Miss Rendall-Smith what temptation Davenant had had to commit the murder, and yet nobody could have been