‘I should feel greatly obliged, sir,’ began Tanner, as he accepted a cigarette from the case the other held out, ‘if you would tell me all you can about this unhappy affair. I have practically only arrived, and I have not heard the details.’ ‘There’s not much I can tell you, I’m afraid,’ Austin answered, and then he repeated almost word for word the statement he had made to the sergeant. He spoke calmly, but the Inspector could see that he was ill at ease. ‘It seemed to my people,’ went on Tanner, ‘that a good deal hinged on the motive Sir William had for taking out the boat. You cannot form any theory about that?’ ‘None whatever. It was the last thing I should have expected him to do.’ ‘There is no one whom he might have wished to visit?’ ‘The butler suggested that,’ and Austin mentioned Dr Graham. ‘But,’ he ended up, ‘we could find nothing to bear out that theory.’ ‘Can you tell me if Sir William had anything on his mind recently?’ Austin hesitated and moved uneasily. ‘No,’ he said, ‘not to my knowledge.’ But his voice changed, and the Inspector felt he was not speaking the truth. ‘When did you see him last, Mr Ponson?’ ‘On Sunday. I dined here and spent the evening.’ ‘And you noticed nothing unusual in his manner then?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘You will be wondering what is the point of all these questions. I am sorry to tell you, Mr Ponson, that my superiors have got an exceedingly unpleasant suspicion into their minds. I hardly like to mention it to you.’ The Inspector paused, watching the other keenly. He was evidently on tenterhooks. Seemingly unable to remain quiet, he threw his cigarette away, and then with quick, jerky movements lit another. But he controlled himself and spoke calmly. ‘Yes? What do they think?’ ‘They are not satisfied,’ went on Tanner, slowly watching all the time the effect of his words, ‘that the affair was an accident at all.’ Austin paled still further and tiny drops of sweat appeared on his forehead. ‘In the Lord’s name,’ he cried hoarsely, ‘what do you mean?’ ‘They fear suicide, Mr Ponson.’ ‘Suicide?’ There was horror in the man’s eyes, but to the Inspector there was relief also. ‘What infernal drivel! They did not know my father.’ ‘That is so, of course, sir. I’m only telling you what the Chief said. That’s the reason they postponed the inquest, and that’s the reason I was sent down.’ ‘I tell you, Inspector, the thing’s absurd. Ask anybody that knew him. They will all tell you the same thing.’ ‘I dare say, sir, and probably correctly. But might I ask you when you go home to turn the matter over in your mind, and if you think of anything bearing on it to let me know?’ ‘Of course,’ assented Austin, and the relief in his manner was now unmistakable.