“If you feel that you could undertake the defence, I should like you to do so. We shall employ the solicitors to the League, Bird & Marshall, but I know they will be willing and glad to act with you.” “Very well,” said Thorndyke. “I will investigate the case and consult with your solicitors. By the way, do the police know about the sheet of the letter on which the plans were drawn?” “No. I thought it best to say nothing about that, and I have told Miss Dalby not to mention it.” “That is just as well,” said Thorndyke. “Have you the sheet with the plan on it?” “I haven’t it about me,” was the reply. “It is in my desk at my chambers.” “You had better let me have it to look at,” said Thorndyke. “You can have it if you want it, of course,” said Bawley, “but it won’t help you. The letters are all alike, as I have told you.” “I should like to see it, nevertheless,” said Thorndyke; “and perhaps you could give me some account of Mr. Burnham. What do you know about him?” Mr. Bawley shut his lips tightly, and his face took on an expression of vindictiveness verging on malignity. “All I know about Burnham,” he said, “is that he was a fool and a ruffian. He was not only an enemy of the great reform that our League stands for; he was a treacherous enemy--violent, crafty, and indefatigably active. I can only regard his death as a blessing to mankind.” “May I ask,” said Thorndyke, “if any members of your League have ever publicly threatened to take personal measures against him?” “Yes,” snapped Bawley. “Several of us--including myself--have threatened to give him the hiding that he deserved. But a hiding is a different thing from murder, you know.” “Yes,” Thorndyke agreed somewhat dryly; then he asked: “Do you know anything about Mr. Burnham’s occupation and habits?” “He was a sort of manager of the London and Suburban Bank. His job was to supervise the suburban branches, and his habit was to visit them in rotation. He was probably going to the branch at Holmwood when he was killed. That is all I can tell you about him.” “Thank you,” said Thorndyke; and as our visitor rose to depart he continued: “Then I will look into the case and arrange with your solicitors to have Miss Dalby properly represented at the inquest; and I shall be glad to have that sheet of the letter as soon as you can send or leave it.” “Very well,” said Bawley, “though, as I have told you, it won’t be of any use to you. It is only a duplicated circular.” “Possibly,” Thorndyke assented. “But the other sheets will be produced in Court, so I may as well have an opportunity of examining it beforehand.” For some minutes after our client had gone Thorndyke remained silent and reflective, copying his rough notes into his pocket-book and apparently amplifying and arranging them. Presently he looked up at me with an unspoken question in his eyes.