“But Thornton overdid matters. Though he undressed the corpse of his victim after the murder he stage-managed the thing far too thoroughly. I drew your attention to it at the time, Parker, but it was obvious to a trained eye that the real Voss would never wear dark glasses in bed. If his object were to disguise himself on arrival at the hotel what would be the point when on his own in a locked room where no-one could see him? It did not take me long to construct a theory which was further strengthened by the evidence of the hotel staff, and the dead man’s possessions, particularly the two newspapers and the passport with its tell-tale Harwich-Hook Customs stamps.
“These, together with Voss’ profession gave me the essential outline of the matter. We may briefly paraphrase my findings as follows. The newspapers were over three weeks old but carefully preserved. Therefore there was something in them of significance. The only two possible items which fitted were those concerning the Hamburg bank robbery. In the bedroom, I pointed out to you, Parker, that something might be read, though the traces of many people made it difficult to read indications in a semi-public place like a hotel bedroom.
“However, I made out the heavy indentations of feet behind the door and it was obvious to me that Voss had been strangled by someone concealed behind the door who had then dragged the body over to the bed. There were the distinct indentations of heel-marks quite clearly traceable in the heavy pile carpet. The police were not looking for such things; therefore they did not discover them.
“The passport was definitely genuine and definitely that of Voss; there was no mistaking the face. The question therefore that came at once to my mind was whether the man who arrived at the hotel was Voss or not. Circumstances led me to conclude that he was someone disguised as Voss. What was the point of the masquerade, then? Simply, that Thornton could not afford to have the body of a complete stranger lying about the hotel. The police might have immediately checked with the German Embassy which would have led to the embarrassing disclosure that Voss was being sought for the Hamburg robbery.
“By registering as Voss he was establishing his presence in the hotel, and hoping that the English police would concentrate on the search for the murderer rather than on checking the identity of an obscure German businessman. He needed a little time; at least another day for changing the money into English currency, when he could conveniently disappear. My guess is that he changed the money this afternoon and decided to move out tonight, when the hotel would be quiet.
“The passport was genuine, therefore Voss was genuine. But the man who arrived here was not. I commended his profession to you, Parker. He was an export official. That immediately suggested the two men merely walked through Customs with the stolen money.
“I next turned to the source of the disguise and with the statement of the taxi-driver we confirmed the West End theatrical costumiers, Glida and Company, whose proprietor gave me a description of my man which fitted Thornton perfectly when I glimpsed him later passing through the lobby. perfectly when was a plan brilliant in its simplicity, Pons.”
“Was it not, Parker.”
“That is all very well, Mr Pons,” said Jamison harshly. “I have no doubt we shall find things as you say but what about the locked door and Mr Hibbert’s involvement in the matter?”
“Oh, come, Inspector, the matter is childishly simple and Mr Hibbert’s so-called involvement is nothing more than the behaviour of any highly-trained hotel manager on being confronted with a murder on his premises. I thought I had explained the matter even to your satisfaction. Thornton was already registered and in possession of Room 84, when he had the money under lock and key. He had laid an elaborate trail, aware that his partner was keeping him under observation. He took possession of the new room, № 31, as Voss, changed his clothes and waited.
“Though it cannot now be proved, it is my belief that the real Voss bided his time until late in the evening, perhaps sitting in the lobby, until he saw Lennard leave his post at the desk. It would be the work of a moment for him to abstract the pass-key from the number board. He would, already, of course, have ascertained the room from a perusal of the register, most likely at a busy period of the day when the receptionist’s attention was elsewhere.
“But Thornton was waiting for him when he opened the door; strangled him — as we have seen he was a powerful and very violent man — and removed his clothing. He had hours to carry out the rest of his plan. When he had arranged things to his satisfaction, Voss in the bed with his pyjamas on, Thornton left the room key on the table. He let himself out, taking the case full of cut newspaper and the clothes Voss had worn.”
Jamison nodded heavily.
“We have already found them in the room Thornton rented,” he said ponderously.
Solar Pons looked round the table.
“When he had covered his traces, all he had to do was to go down the back stairs and out into the Strand. Awaiting the right opportunity he returned to the hotel, by the front entrance, replacing the pass-key on its hook while Lennard was still in the kitchen quarters.”
“But supposing he were seen, Pons?”
“That would not matter, Parker. He was merely retrieving the key of his own room from the board and undoubtedly he would have had it in his hand for that purpose. But as we know from Lennard himself, he was not seen. It was a bold and brilliant scheme and ought, by all the laws of averages, to have succeeded.”
“And it would have done but for you, Mr Pons,” said Hibbert warmly. “I have never seen or heard anything so brilliant.”
“You do me too much honour,” Solar Pons protested. “The matter was not without its interesting aspects but must remain conjectural until friend Jamison here has established the salient facts. I fear we shall not get much out of Thornton himself. He bears all the marks of the hardened professional criminal.”
“I am still puzzled about one thing, Pons,” I said. “Why did not Thornton leave the hotel immediately after the murder?” My companion gave a wry chuckle.
“Apart from the fact that he had not yet changed the money, that was just what he could not afford to do, Parker. And that was something I banked on as soon as I began to see the truth of the matter. If Thornton had left the hotel in the middle of the night it would immediately have drawn attention to him and that was the last thing he wished. Having noted the similarity between the handwriting of Thornton and Voss I learned that the former had given it as his intention of leaving the hotel tomorrow. That was very cool under the circumstances but I then hazarded a guess, rightly as it turned out, that he would leave some time this evening as even he — iron-nerved as he was — could not afford to overplay his hand. At any moment the police might have decided to turn their attention to the guests. But he had all the attributes of the real professional. Coolness and brute courage in equal measure. He undoubtedly relied on the police assuming the murderer had already left the hotel the previous night and would turn their efforts in that direction accordingly. I really would be most grateful, Inspector, if you would let me know the man’s real identity should it turn up in your criminal records.”
“We are on to it, Mr Pons,” said Jamison, resignation in every timbre of his voice.
He rose and hovered uncertainly for a moment or two. “Well, I must get back to the Yard, gentlemen. We have much to do.”