The Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder · The Stealer of Marble (3/3)

“Carbon monoxide,” he said, “which is made by steeping marble chips in hydrochloric acid⁠—you will find the mixture in the tank. The gas is colourless and odourless⁠—and heavy. You can pour it out of a jug like water. She could have bought the marble, but was afraid of arousing suspicion. Billingham was killed that way. She got him to go to the telephone box, probably closed the door on him herself, and then killed him painlessly.”

“What did she do with the body?” asked the horrified officer.

“Come out into the hothouse,” said Mr. Reeder, “and pray do not expect to see horrors: an electric furnace will dissolve a diamond to its original elements.”

Mr. Reeder went home that night in a state of mental perturbation, and for an hour paced the floor of his large study in Brockley Road.

Over and over in his mind he turned one vital problem: did he owe an apology to Margaret Belman for saying that she was his wife?