"My own impression--though I confess it may seem to have no very solid
grounds--is that Marbury was decoyed to where he was found, and was
robbed and murdered by some person who knew he had valuables on him.
There is the fact that he was robbed, at any rate."

"I've had a notion," said Breton, diffidently. "Mayn't be worth much,
but I've had it, all the same. Some fellow-passenger of Marbury's may
have tracked him all day--Middle Temple Lane's pretty lonely at night,
you know."

No one made any comment upon this suggestion, and on Spargo looking at
Mr. Aylmore, the Member of Parliament rose and glanced at the door.

"Well, that's all I can tell you, Mr. Spargo," he said. "You see, it's
not much, after all. Of course, there'll be an inquest on Marbury, and
I shall have to re-tell it. But you're welcome to print what I've told
you."

Spargo left Breton with his future father-in-law and went away towards
New Scotland Yard. He and Rathbury had promised to share news--now he
had some to communicate.




CHAPTER EIGHT

THE MAN FROM THE SAFE DEPOSIT