The narrative follows Rufus Pembury, a man with a criminal past who has successfully reinvented himself as a respectable wine merchant. His life takes a dark turn when he encounters Pratt, a former prison warder who recognizes him as an escaped convict. Pratt blackmails Pembury, demanding a substantial sum to keep his secret. Faced with the threat of exposure, Pembury decides that Pratt must be eliminated to secure his freedom. Pembury meticulously plans the murder, purchasing various items in London that he will use to carry out his scheme. He constructs a weapon and prepares to frame the scene to mislead any investigation. After returning to his home near Baysford, he meets Pratt in a secluded avenue and stabs him during their confrontation. The murder is brutal, with multiple wounds inflicted on Pratt's back, indicating a struggle. As Pembury disposes of evidence and attempts to cover his tracks, the local community discovers Pratt's body. General O'Gorman, a retired prison governor with a pack of bloodhounds, becomes involved in the investigation. The hounds are deployed to track the scent from the murder scene, leading them to the police station where a supernumerary officer, Jack Ellis, is present. Ellis, who has a history with both men, becomes the prime suspect despite his claims of innocence. The investigation unfolds with Inspector Fox and Dr. Thorndyke examining the evidence. They find inconsistencies, particularly regarding the bloodhounds' behavior and the knife used in the murder. Thorndyke deduces that the blood on the knife may not belong to Pratt, and he suspects that the murder was premeditated, designed to frame Ellis. As the investigation progresses, Pembury's careful planning begins to unravel. Thorndyke discovers fingerprints on a brush-case and a pair of tongs hidden in a tree, linking them to Pembury, who is revealed to be the true murderer. However, Pembury manages to evade capture by disappearing after converting his assets into bearer securities. The story concludes with Pembury's successful escape, leaving the authorities baffled and the community in shock. The narrative explores themes of identity, morality, and the lengths one will go to protect their secrets, ultimately questioning the effectiveness of traditional methods of crime detection.
By R. Austin Freeman · First published 1936 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Thriller · 2 chapters