OTOR ANSWERING DESCRIPTION ARRIVED
BEDFORD HOTEL HERE 6.30 THIS MORNING GAVE NAME MARLOWE LEFT CAR HOTEL
GARAGE TOLD ATTENDANT CAR BELONGED MANDERSON HAD BATH AND BREAKFAST WENT
OUT HEARD OF LATER AT DOCKS ENQUIRING FOR PASSENGER NAME HARRIS ON HAVRE
BOAT ENQUIRED REPEATEDLY UNTIL BOAT LEFT AT NOON NEXT HEARD OF AT HOTEL
WHERE HE LUNCHED ABOUT 1.15 LEFT SOON AFTERWARDS IN CAR COMPANY'S AGENTS
INFORM BERTH WAS BOOKED NAME HARRIS LAST WEEK BUT HARRIS DID NOT TRAVEL
BY BOAT BURKE INSPECTOR.

'Simple and satisfactory,' observed Mr Murch as Trent, after twice
reading the message, returned it to him. 'His own story corroborated in
every particular. He told me he hung about the dock for half an hour or
so on the chance of Harris turning up late, then strolled back, lunched,
and decided to return at once. He sent a wire to Manderson--"Harris not
turned up missed boat returning Marlowe," which was duly delivered here
in the afternoon, and placed among the dead man's letters. He motored
back at a good rate, and arrived dog-tired. When he heard of Manderson's
death from Martin, he nearly fainted. What with that and the being
without sleep for so long, he was rather a wreck when I came to
interview him last night; but he was perfectly coherent.'

Trent picked up the revolver and twirled the cylinder idly for a few
moments. 'It was unlucky for Manderson that Marlowe left his pistol and
cartridges about so carelessly,' he remarked at length, as he put it
back in the case. 'It was throwing temptation in somebody's way, don't
you think?'

Mr Murch shook his head. 'There isn't really much to lay hold of about
the revolver, when you come to think. That particular make of revolver
is common enough in England. It was introduced from the States. Half
the people who buy a revolver today for self-defence or mischief provide
themselves with that make, of that calibre. It is very reliable, and
easily carried in the hip-pocket. There must be thousands of them in
the possession of crooks and honest men. For instance,' continued the
inspector with an air of unconcern, 'Manderson himself had one, the
double of this. I found it in one of the top drawers of the desk
downstairs, and it's in my overcoat pocket now.'

'Aha! so you were going to keep that little detail to yourself.'

'I was,' said the inspector; 'but as you've found one revolver, you may
as well know about the other. As I say, neither of them may do us any
good. The people in the ho