It was I who opened it when I heard of the murder.

Then, thinking that I should get into trouble for sticking my nose into police business, I told Mr.Whiteside that Mr.Lyne had opened it." "He didn't receive the telegram ?" asked Tarling.
"No, sir." The two detectives looked at one another.
"Well, what do you make of that, Whiteside ?" "I'm blest if I know what to think of it," said Whiteside, scratching his head.

"We depended upon that telegram to implicate the girl.

It breaks a big link in the chain against her." "Supposing it was not already broken," said Tarling almost aggressively.
"And it certainly removes the only possible explanation for Lyne going to the flat on the night of the murder.

You're perfectly sure, Cole, that that telegram did not reach Mr.Lyne ?" "Perfectly, sir," said Cole emphatically.