“You mean to say you found Arthur Constant alive?”

“As you were last night.”

The Minister was silent, striving confusedly to take in the situation.  Outside the crowd was cheering again.  It was probably to pass the time.

“Then, when was he murdered?”

“Immediately afterwards.”

“By whom?”

“Well, that is, if you will pardon me, not a very intelligent question.  Science and common-sense are in accord for once.  Try the method of exhaustion.  It must have been either by Mrs. Drabdump or myself.”

“You mean to say that Mrs. Drabdump—!”

“Poor dear Mrs. Drabdump, you don’t deserve this of your Home Secretary!  The idea of that good lady!”

“It was you!”

“Calm yourself, my dear Home Secretary.  There is nothing to be alarmed at.  It was a solitary experiment, and I intend it to remain so.”  The noise without grew louder.  “Three cheers for Grodman!  Hip, hip, hip, hooray,” fell faintly on their ears.

But the Minister, pallid and deeply moved, touched the bell.  The Home Secretary’s home secretary appeared.  He looked at the great man’s agitated face with suppressed surprise.

“Thank you for calling in your amanuensis,” said Grodman.  “I intended to ask you to lend me his services.  I suppose he can write shorthand.”

The Minister nodded, speechless.

“That is well.  I intend this statement to form the basis of an appendix to the twenty-fifth edition—­sort of silver wedding—­of my book, Criminals I have Caught.  Mr. Denzil Cantercot, who, by the will I have made to-day, is appointed my literary executor, will have the task of working it up with literary and dramatic touches after the model of the other chapters of my book.  I have every confidence he will be able to do me as much justice, from a literary point of view, as you, sir, no doubt will from a legal.  I feel certain he will succeed in catching the style of the other chapters to perfection.”

“Templeton,” whispered the Home Secretary, “this man may be a lunatic.  The effort to solve the Big Bow Mystery may have addled his brain.  Still,” he added aloud, “it will be as well for you to take down his statement in shorthand.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Grodman, heartily.  “Ready, Mr. Templeton?  Here goes.  My career till I left the Scotland Yard Detective Department is known to all the world.  Is that too fast for you, Mr. Templeton?  A little?  Well, I’ll go slower; but pull me up if I forget to keep the brake on.  When I retired, I discovered that I was a bachelor.  But it was too late to marry.  Time hung heavy on my hands.  The preparation of my book, Criminals I have Caught, kept me occupied for some months.  When it was published, I had nothing more to do but think.  I had plenty of money, and it was safely invested; there was no call for speculation.  The future was meaningless to me; I regretted I had not elected to die in harness.