Mr.Hamilton Fynes was robbed and murdered--an American citizen on his way to London.

Mr.Richard Vanderpole is also murdered, after a call upon Mr.James B.Coulson, the only acquaintance whom Mr.Fynes is known to have possessed in this country.

Did Mr.Fynes share secrets with Mr.Coulson?
If so, did Mr.
Coulson pass them on to Mr.Vanderpole, and for that reason did Mr.
Vanderpole meet with the same death, at the same hands, as had befallen Mr.Fynes ?" Inspector Jacks moved his head thoughtfully.
"It is admirably put," he assented, "and to continue ?" "It is not my place to make suggestions to you," Penelope said.

"If you are able to connect Mr.Fynes with the American Government, you arrive at the possibility of these murders having been committed for some political end.

I presume you read your newspapers ?" Inspector Jacks smiled, picked up his hat and bowed, while Penelope, with a sigh of relief, moved over to the bell.
"My dear young lady," he said, "you do not understand how important even the point of view of another person is to a man who is struggling to build up a theory.