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"If you feel like that⁠—I suppose you wouldn't trust me to talk to him?"

"It's awfully good of you, but you know, I feel it's up to me. I must form my own conclusions."

"Then, if I were you, I'd write him a letter, simply pointing out that there are certain actions of his which you can't quite explain, and asking him to explain them. Tell him you're still worried over Brotherhood's murder, and feel that perhaps he may be concealing something, from whatever motive, which might lead you to the truth if you knew about it. Reeves, I'm sure the man isn't a murderer: you only want to get him to explain things."

"Yes, but the whole business hangs together, I can't tell him how I formed my suspicions without telling him the whole of the evidence I've got; and that means putting it to him straight out. I must see that he manages to exculpate Davenant; as long as he does that, I don't mind if he goes abroad⁠—I don't mind giving him time to get away. But I must show him where he stands, and I must get a confession out of him."

"But the thing's impossible!"

"Look here, I've got it⁠—the telephone! That lets you talk to a man without seeing his face, without letting him answer if you don't want him to; you can treat him as if he wasn't there. I know it sounds a silly dodge, but you see my idea, don't you?"

"I should have thought it would be rather public.