Page:ManInBrownSuit-Christie.pdf/213

204 of the place looking fairly normal, but I knew that it could not be long before the crime was discovered and a description of my appearance telegraphed all over the country.

"I lay low for some days, not daring to make a move. In the end chance came to my aid. I overheard a conversation between two middle-aged gentlemen in the street, one of whom proved to be Sir Eustace Pedler. I at once conceived the idea of attaching myself to him as his secretary. The fragment of conversation I had overheard gave me my clue. I was now no longer so sure that Sir Eustace Pedler was the 'Colonel.' His house might have been appointed as a rendezvous by accident, or for some obscure motive that I had not fathomed."

"Do you know," I interrupted, "that Guy Pagett was in Marlow at the date of the murder?"

"That settles it then. I thought he was at Cannes with Sir Eustace."

"He was supposed to be in Florence—but he certainly never went there. I'm pretty certain he was really in Marlow, but of course I can't prove it."

"And to think I never suspected Pagett for a minute until the night he tried to throw you overboard. The man's a marvellous actor."

"Yes, isn't he?"

"That explains why the Mill House was chosen. Pagett could probably get in and out of it unobserved. Of course he made no objection to my accompanying Sir Eustace across in the boat. He didn't want me laid by the heels immediately. You see, evidently Nadina didn't bring the jewels with her to the rendezvous as they had counted on her doing. I fancy that Carton really had them and concealed them somewhere on the Kilmorden Castle—that's where he came in. They hoped that I might have some clue as to where they were hidden. As