Page:The Viaduct Murder (1926).pdf/214

papers⁠—I thought, purposely. I didn't like doing it, but I felt the obvious thing was to look through those papers on Marryatt's table. Among them was a postcard from Brotherhood, dated a week ago, thanking him for the gift of a copy of Momerie's Immortality."

"But, look here, the thing's impossible! Marryatt, I mean, Marryatt isn't the least the sort of person⁠———"

"Yes, I know all that. I've thought of all that. But just look at the facts. There's not the least doubt it was Marryatt who came into my room, yesterday afternoon, I suppose. He came in, no doubt, for the pipe-cleaner or for the Shakespeare quotation⁠—I don't grudge him either. Then he must have seen the Momerie on the shelf, and I suppose couldn't help taking it; he didn't feel safe as long as the thing was in my hands. He is, of course, just the height Carmichael mentioned; he does smoke Worker's Army Cut; his pipes always are foul."

"Yes, but he may have wanted the Momerie for anything."

"Why did he never tell me he'd taken it? Look here, you've got to face the facts. Let me marshal them for you; you can imagine I've been thinking them out pretty furiously. First, Marryatt had a reason for disliking Brotherhood."

"For disliking him, yes; but not for wanting to murder him."

"Of course to you and me it wouldn't seem so;