Information Received by E.R. Punshon

article in a leading journal, advocating passionately the use of the ‘cat’ in all such cases, the papers were not giving the affair any very great attention.
    It was too early yet also for crowds to have assembled, so, after a short chat with the man on duty, Bobby strolled on round the garden, making a very careful examination of the ground and drawing a sketch map in his pocket-book on the chance that it might be useful. With very special attention he examined also a solitary footprint that had been found in the soft mould of a flower bed at the angle where two gravel paths joined. It had already been measured, photographed, treated in fact in all ways as issued instructions demand that footprints found in such circumstances should be treated, and now it was protected by a careful arrangement of twine, upright sticks, and a waterproof cover. One felt that if attention to a footprint could catch a criminal, this man was as good as under arrest already.
    â€˜Interesting, eh?’ a voice said behind him, and Bobby, turning sharply, jumped to the salute as he recognized Mitchell.
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ he said. ‘Very narrow footprint for its length, too, sir.’
    â€˜What about it?’
    â€˜The elderly man I reported as appearing interested in the house yesterday evening, shortly before the murder, had very long narrow feet,’ Bobby answered. ‘I noticed them particularly.’
    Mitchell regarded Bobby with a very pained expression.
    â€˜Sort of Hoodoo you are, aren’t you?’ he complained. ‘As soon as I get a working theory going, you turn up with some new fact and knock it endways.’
    â€˜Sorry, sir,’ said Bobby.
    â€˜Anything happen last night after I left?’
    â€˜The two young ladies and Mr Mark Lester came out and joined Mr Carsley in the hall. They talked a little.’
    â€˜Did you hear what they said?’
    â€˜Yes, sir. The study door was open and I think they forgot I was there.’
    â€˜I thought they might,’ Mitchell remarked. ‘Anything interesting in what they said?’
    â€˜Mr Carsley said he was suspected and it was natural enough. Miss Jennie – Mrs Carsley that is – said they must refuse to take her father’s money, it must go to charity as if he had had time to sign the new will. Mr Lester said that would be silly and at any rate Miss Brenda ought to have what had been meant for her. Miss Brenda said she wouldn’t touch it. They were all very excited and a bit hysterical, I thought. If any of them knew anything, there was nothing to show it in what they said. Mr Carsley stayed the night here with his wife. Mr Lester said the police were no good, that he would find the murderer himself, and the first thing was to find out who the revolver belonged to. He talked as if he really thought he had some private information. I thought he rather frightened Miss Brenda. She seemed nervous, and as if she were afraid something might happen to him, too. After Mr and Mrs Carsley went upstairs, Mr Lester and Miss Brenda talked about their private affairs.’
    â€˜Go on,’ said Mitchell. ‘There are no private affairs in a murder case.’
    â€˜No, sir,’ agreed Bobby. ‘I thought they both seemed in a very emotional state, very highly strung and over-wrought. They talked in an excited sort of way, not the way people generally talk. It seemed as if Miss Brenda had got engaged to him without meaning it very much, just because he was there and her stepfather wanted it. The servants in the house here say the same, they say it was Sir Christopher did it all.’
    â€˜I wonder why,’ mused Mitchell; ‘generally it’s the women are the matchmakers. Seems as if he wanted to get rid of her.’
    â€˜That’s what the servants think,’ Bobby answered. ‘They all seem to be a little afraid of her, they don’t seem to know why themselves, just a vague general feeling.