I believe there was foul play--of some sort.

I'm still following things up--quietly.

And--I'll tell you something--between ourselves--I've made an important discovery.
It's this.

On the evening of Braden's arrival at the Mitre he was out, somewhere, for a whole two hours--by himself." "I thought we learned from Mrs.Partingley that he and the other man, Dellingham, spent the evening together ?" said Bryce.
"So we did--but that was not quite so," replied Mitchington.

"Braden went out of the Mitre just before nine o'clock and he didn't return until a few minutes after eleven.