'At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8.0 o'clock
train to London,' said the man.#
'Do you always catch such an early train?' asked the inspector.#
'Of course I do,' answered the man. 'I must be at work at 10 o'clock. My
employer will confirm that I was there on time.'#
'Would a later train get you to work on time?' asked the inspector.#
'I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.'#
'At what time did you arrive at the station?'#
'At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.'#
'And you didn't notice anything unusual?'#
'Of course not.'#
'I suggest,' said the inspector, 'that you are not telling the truth. I
suggest that you did not catch the 8 o'clock train, but that you caught the
8.25 which would still get you to work on time. You see, on the morning of the
murder, the 8 o'clock train did not run at all. It broke down at Ferngreen
station and was taken off the line.'&