"You're not going in for criminal investigation, are you, doctor ?" "Not exactly," smiled Saunders.

"Though I am naturally pleased to be in a position to prove the girl's innocence." "Prove her innocence?
What do you mean ?" demanded Tarling quickly.
"The murder could not have been committed before eleven o'clock.

The dead man was last seen alive at half-past nine." "Well ?" said Tarling.
"Well," repeated Dr.Saunders, "at nine o'clock the boat train left Charing Cross, and at half-past ten Miss Rider was admitted to this hospital suffering from shock and concussion." For a moment Tarling said nothing and did nothing.

He stood as though turned to stone, staring at the doctor with open mouth.

Then he lurched forward, gripped the astonished medical man by the hand, and wrung it.
"That's the best bit of news I have had in my life," he said huskily..