“That doesn’t seem very plausible to me,” the inspector answered. “I think we’re agreed that everything we have discovered so far points to a carefully arranged crime. James wouldn’t have laid his plans so thoroughly and left himself such a small margin of time, if he’d thought that Fanshawe wasn’t going to do his part properly. Don’t forget that the lease of the house was nearly up, and the tickets for France bought already. It seems to me more likely that the two were in touch with each other while Fanshawe was still in Maidstone.”

“Then what’s your explanation of Fanshawe’s behaviour on Friday morning—assuming my theory is right?”

“Assuming that your theory is right—and after all we are only dealing in assumptions—don’t you think it possible that Fanshawe’s visit to Ballantine was all part of the plan?”

“In what way?”

“You have suggested that James decoyed Ballantine to his house in Daylesford Gardens. You haven’t suggested how he managed it.”

“No, that’s a weak spot in the theory, I admit.”

“That is one weak spot, and the threat to Ballantine on Friday morning is another. Let’s see if the two can’t cancel each other out. Suppose James sent Fanshawe to frighten Ballantine? We know, and very likely he knew, that Ballantine was on the verge of financial ruin, and contemplating flight. He would therefore be in a particularly nervous state. James meets Ballantine after the interview, is told of the incident, expresses his sympathy, and then says: ‘My poor fellow, your life is in danger if you go home. Come to my place for the night and you will be safe enough’, Ballantine falls into the trap, goes to Daylesford Gardens, and there meets Fanshawe—and his death. How does that strike you?”

Frant rubbed his hands appreciatively.

“Magnificent!” he said. “That’s just how it would have happened! I’m sure that’s just how it did happen!”

“Quite,” rejoined Mallett drily, “and how do we set about proving it?”

“There’s only one way to do that,” replied Frant, “and that’s to find James.”

Mallett smacked his desk in irritation.

“James, James, James!” he cried. “The crux of this whole case, and not a shred of evidence about him, except that his name is not James, that he hasn’t got a beard, and is probably as thin as a rake!”

“You can add another probability to that,” remarked Frant, “and that is that he is probably still in France.”