"The house is yours--only too glad, old chap.
But what a queer case it is! I'd give something, you know, to know what you really think about it." "I've not yet settled in my own mind what I do think about it," said Brereton.

"But I'll suggest a few things to you which you can think over at your leisure.

What motive could Harborough have had for killing Kitely?
There's abundant testimony in the town--from his daughter, from neighbours, from tradesmen--that Harborough was never short of money--he's always had more money than most men in his position are supposed to have.

Do you think it likely that he'd have killed Kitely for thirty pounds?
Again--does anybody of sense believe that a man of Harborough's evident ability would have murdered his victim so clumsily as to leave a direct clue behind him?
Now turn to another side.

Is it not evident that if Miss Pett wanted to murder Kitely she'd excellent chances of not only doing so, but of directing suspicion to another person?
She knew her master's habits--she knew the surroundings--she knew where Harborough kept that cord--she is the sort of person who could steal about as quietly as a cat.