"You know his excuse?" said Wedgwood.
"That whoever was clever enough to murder John as John had been murdered was clever enough to secure John's papers," answered the inspector. "Oh, yes, I know that, but I didn't accept it!"
"Nor do I," said Wedgwood. "I think Thomas Wraypoole went to Porteous Road to lay hold of and to destroy certain papers, either known to him, or the existence of which was guessed at by him, connected with the secret in that Mortover manuscript. That's what I think—now!"
"What is the secret?" muttered the inspector.
"Man murdered—manuscript disappeared! Stiff proposition!"
"Well," said Wedgwood, it seems to me that there's only one thing to be done. John Wraypoole, in my opinion, discovered that secret at Netherwell. I ought to go down to Netherwell, to see if I can discover it."
"Good!" agreed the inspector. "I think you should go at once. Derbyshire, eh? Netherwell—what is it?"
"Small market town, in a wildish district," replied Wedgwood. "I'll put up at the hotel in which John Wraypoole stayed. Thomas says he has John's hotel bill, but I shan't let Thomas know I'm going. And while I'm gone,
