Dr. Armstrong drew a deep breath.

«And Mrs. Rogers?»

Lombard said slowly:

«I could believe in Anthony’s suicide (with difficulty) if it weren’t for Mrs. Rogers. I could believe in Mrs. Rogers’ suicide (easily) if it weren’t for Anthony Marston. I can believe that Rogers put his wife out of the way – if it were not for the unexplained death of Anthony Marston. But what we need is a theory to explain two deaths following rapidly on each other.»

Armstrong said: «I can perhaps give you some help towards that theory.»

And he repeated the facts that Rogers had given him about the disappearance of the two little china figures.

Lombard said: «Yes, little china Soldier figures… There were certainly ten last night at dinner. And now there are eight, you say?»

Dr. Armstrong recited:

«Ten little Soldier boys going out to dine;

One went and choked himself and then there were nine.

„Nine little Soldier boys sat up very late;

One overslept himself and then there were eight.“

The two men looked at each other. Philip Lombard grinned and flung away his cigarette.

„Fits too damned well to be a coincidence! Anthony Marston dies of asphyxiation or choking last night after dinner, and Mother Rogers oversleeps herself with a vengeance.“

„And therefore?“ said Armstrong.

Lombard took him up.

„And therefore another kind of puzzle. The Nigger in the Woodpile! X! Mr. Owen! U. N. Owen. One Unknown Lunatic at Large!“

„Ah!“ Armstrong breathed a sigh of relief. „You agree. But you see what it involves? Rogers swore that there was no one but ourselves and he and his wife on the island.“

„Rogers is wrong! Or possibly Rogers is lying!“

Armstrong shook his head.

„I don’t think he’s lying. The man’s scared. He’s scared nearly out of his senses.“

Philip Lombard nodded.

He said: „No motor boat this morning. That fits in. Mr. Owen’s little arrangements again to the fore. Soldier Island is to be isolated until Mr. Owen has finished his job.“

Armstrong had gone pale. He said:

„You realize – the man must be a raving maniac!“

Philip Lombard said, and there was a new ring in his voice:

„There’s one thing Mr. Owen didn’t realize.“

What’s that?»

«This island’s more or less a bare rock. We shall make short work of searching it. We’ll soon ferret out U. N. Owen, Esq.»

Dr. Armstrong said warningly:

«He’ll be dangerous.»

Philip Lombard laughed.

«Dangerous? Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? I’ll be dangerous when I get hold of him!»

He paused and said:

«We’d better rope in Blore to help us. He’ll be a good man in a pinch. Better not tell the women. As for the others, the General’s ga ga, I think, and old Wargrave’s forte is masterly inactivity. The three of us can attend to this job.»