The two overwhelming points of his defence which had completely routed the prosecution were, firstly, the proof that he had never written the letters making the assignation, and secondly, the fact that the man supposed to have been murdered on the 10th was seen to be alive and well on the 16th.

But then, who in the world was the mysterious individual who had apprised Kershaw of the movements of Smethurst, the millionaire ?".