Curious how people will never let well alone. If this fellow “Justice” had been content to stay out of the case, we’d have had a much stiffer job. Now at last he’s let us see what side he’s on⁠—anti-Silverdale definitely. + 

The photographs are obvious fakes if one examines them carefully. Their only importance is as a guide to the identity of “Justice.” + 

They limit the circle still further, since the production of them implies the use of a good microphotographic camera; and the Croft-Thornton Institute has more than one of these. + 

Points which seem to tell against Markfield: + 

He was intimate with Mrs. Silverdale shortly after she came here. + 

He was near Heatherfield on the night of the murder. + 

He knew the maid was alone in Heatherfield except for her sick companion. + 

He could easily have obtained possession of Silverdale’s cigarette-holder. + 

Owing to his housekeeper’s absence, he could move about freely with no check on the times when he left his house or returned to it. + 

He was out at the Research Station on the Lizardbridge Road early in the evening on the night of the bungalow affair. + 

The evidence he gave us, for all his pretence of reluctance, was directed against Silverdale. + 

He was well acquainted with all the arrangements of the Croft-Thornton Institute. + 

Owing to his earlier association with Mrs. Silverdale, he had access to specimens of her writing. + 

His car’s number, GX.9074, was known to Whalley, who made inquiries about it with reference to the night of the murders. + 

He knew that Silverdale had a banjo. + 

He had access to Silverdale’s laboratory coat. + 

He knew of the relations between Silverdale and Miss Deepcar. + 

He knew that Miss Deepcar would be out of town on the night when the raid was made on her house. + 

He was a good amateur actor. + 

He had access to a microphotographic camera. + 

These are established facts. Make the assumption that his earlier association with Mrs. Silverdale was a guilty and not an innocent one, and see where that leads. It suggests the following: + 

That they took special care to conceal their intimacy, since Silverdale would have been glad of a divorce. + 

That they themselves did not wish for a divorce, possibly for financial reasons. + 

That Hassendean was utilised as a shield for the real intrigue, without understanding that he was serving this purpose. + 

That he took the bit in his teeth and resorted to hyoscine to gain his ends. + 

That Markfield, on his way home from the Research Station that night, caught a glimpse of Hassendean driving Mrs. Silverdale out to the bungalow, and became suspicious. + 

That he followed them and the tragedy ensued. + 

That after the tragedy, Markfield realised the danger of his love-letters to Mrs. Silverdale which were in her room at Heatherfield. + 

That the Heatherfield murder followed as a sequel to this. + 

Finally, there is the inscription in the ring which Mrs. Silverdale wore. Markfield has no initial B in his name; but the B might stand for some pet name which she used for him. + 

The net result of it all is that there are strong grounds for suspicion against him, but no real proof that one could put confidently before a jury. + 

Possibly he might be bluffed. I’ll try it. + 