"Did you tell the police?" he said.

"No, sir. My missus an' me clean forgot all about it."

"So, while Mrs. Lester was being killed, the key of her flat was
actually in your possession?"

"I suppose it might be put that way, sir."

By this time Theydon was becoming exasperated at the veritable
conspiracy which fate had engineered for the express purpose,
apparently, of entangling him in an abominable crime.

"Why on earth didn't you mention such an important fact to the
detectives?" he almost shouted, "Don't you see they are bound to
think--"

"O, a plague on the detectives and on what they think!" broke in
Forbes imperiously. "It doesn't matter a straw what they think, and
very little what they do. This affair goes a long way beyond the
four-mile radius, Theydon. The vital point is that your man has the
key. Where is it? Let us go in there at once!"

"You offered me some advice, Mr. Forbes," said Theydon firmly. "Let me
now return it in kind. If you wish to examine Mrs. Lester's flat why
not seek the permission of Scotland Yard?"

"My good fellow, I have spent a valuable hour this morning in
persuading the Home Secretary that the less Scotland Yard interferes