When Inspector Tanner reached his office in New Scotland Yard, he found an instruction from Chief Inspector Edgar, informing him that Mr James Daunt, of Lincoln’s Inn, had important evidence to give him relative to the Ponson case. Accordingly, after he had made a formal report on his Portuguese expedition, he called up Jimmy and arranged a meeting. A few hours later he was seated in the solicitor’s office, smoking one of the latter’s best cigars.
‘My Chief says you have something to tell me?’ he began, after mutual greetings.
‘Why yes,’ Jimmy replied. ‘Did your Chief tell you what it was?’
‘Didn’t see him. He’s in Manchester.’
‘I fancy you’ll be surprised. You recollect you told me you had suspected Cosgrove Ponson, but that he had established an alibi and so must be innocent?’
Tanne
