"He has been in this house dozens of times and knows it as well as I do myself.

Why do you ask so obvious a question ?" "I was only wondering if Sir Hubert came by the high road to the wicket gate you speak of, Lord Garvington." "That also is obvious," retorted the other, irritably.

"Since he wished to come here, he naturally would take the easiest way." "Then why did he not enter by the main avenue gates ?" "Because at that hour they would be shut, and--since it is evident that his visit was a secret one--he would have had to knock up the lodge-keeper." "Why was his visit a secret one ?" questioned Darby pointedly.
"That is the thing that puzzles me.

Anything more ?" "Yes?
Why should Sir Hubert come to the blue door ?" "I can't answer that question, either.

The whole reason of his being here, instead of in Paris, is a mystery to me." "Oh, as to that last, the reply is easy," remarked the inspector.