“You recollect, of course, that Mr. David Hume-Frazer was arrested and tried for the murder of his cousin?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.  Now I want you to search your memory well and tell me if you saw anyone belonging to the family in the station on that New Year’s Eve.  The terrible occurrence at Beechcroft the same night must have fixed the facts in your mind.”

The stationmaster, a cautious man of kindly disposition, seemed to be troubled by the interrogatory.

“Do you mind if I ask you, sir, why you are seeking this information?” he inquired, after a thoughtful pause.

“A very proper question.  Mr. David Hume-Frazer is a friend of mine, and he has sought my help to clear away the mystery attached to his cousin’s death.”

“But why do you come to me?”

“Because you are a very likely person to have some knowledge on the point I raised.  You see every person who enters or leaves Stowmarket by train.”

“That is true.  We railway men see far more than people think,” said the official, with a smile.  “But it is very odd that you should be the first gentleman to think of talking to me in connection with the affair, though I can assure you certain things puzzled me a good deal at the time.”

“And what were they?”

“You are the gentleman who came here three days ago with Mr. David, whom, by the way, I hardly recognised at first?”

“Exactly.”

“Well, I suppose it is all right.  I did not interfere because I could not see my way clear to voluntarily give evidence.  Of course, were I summoned by the police, it would be a different matter.  The incidents of that New Year’s Eve fairly bewildered me.”

“Indeed!”

“It was stated at the trial, sir, that Mr. David came from Scotland that morning, left Liverpool Street at 3.20 p.m., and reached Stowmarket at 5.22 p.m.”

“Yes.”

“Further, he was admittedly the second person to see his cousin’s dead body, and remained at the Hall until arrested by the police on a warrant.”

Brett nodded.  The stationmaster’s statement promised to be intensely interesting.

“Well, sir,” continued the man excitedly, “I was mystified enough on New Year’s Eve, but after the murder came out I thought I was fairly bewitched.  That season is always a busy one for us, what between parcels, passengers, and bad weather.  On the morning of December 31, I fancied I saw Mr. David leave the London train due here at 12.15 midday.  I only caught a glimpse of him, because there was a crowd of people, and he was all muffled up.  I didn’t give the matter a second thought until I saw him again step out of a first-class carriage at 2.20 p.m.  I looked at him rather sharp that time.  He was differently dressed, and hurried off without any luggage.  He left the station quickly, so I imagined I had been mistaken a couple of hours earlier.  You could have knocked me down with a feather when he appeared by the 5.22 p.m.  This time he had several leather trunks, and a footman from the Hall was waiting for him on the platform.  Excuse me, sir, but it was a fair licker!”