, it did that. I had sent Miss Rider off in a hurry. I begged that
she would not go near the flat, and I promised that I myself would go
there, pack the necessary articles for the journey and take them down in
a taxi to Charing Cross."

"I see," said Tarling, "so it was you who packed the bag?"

"Half-packed it," corrected Mr. Milburgh. "You see, I'd made a mistake in
the time the train left. It was only when I was packing the bag that I
realised it was impossible for me to get down to the station in time. I
had made arrangements with Miss Rider that if I did not turn up I would
telephone to her a quarter of an hour before the train left. She was to
await me in the lounge of a near-by hotel. I had hoped to get to her at
least an hour before the train left, because I did not wish to attract
attention to myself, or," he added, "to Miss Rider. When I looked at my
watch, and realised that it was impossible to get down, I left the bag as
it was, half-packed and went outside to the tube station and telephoned."

"How did you get in and out?" asked Tarling. "The porter on duty at the
door said he saw nobody."

"I went out the back way," explained Mr. Milburgh. "It is really the
simplest thing in the world to get into Miss Rider's basement flat by
way of the mews behind. All the tenants have keys to the back door so
that they can bring their cycles in and out, or get in their coals."

"I know that," said Tarling. "Go on."

"I am a little in advance of the actual story," said Milburgh. "The
business of packing the bag takes my narrative along a little farther
than I intended it to go. Having said good-bye to Miss Rider, I passed
the rest of the evening perfecting my plans. It would serve no useful
purpose," said Milburgh with an airy wave of his hand, "if I were to tell
you the arguments I intended putting before him."

"If they did not include the betrayal of Miss Rider, I'm a Dutchman,"
said Tarling. "I pretty well know the arguments you intended using."

"Then, Mr. Tarling, allow me to congratulate you upon being a
thought-reader," said Milburgh, "because I have not revealed my secret
thoughts to any human being. However, that is beside the point. I
intended to plead with Mr. Lyne. I intended to offer him the record of
years of loyal service to his sainted father; and if the confession was
not accepted, and if he still persisted in his revengeful plan, then, Mr.
Tarling, I intended shooting myself before his eyes."