It was necessary that John Bellingham should make one more appearance in public before sinking into final oblivion.
"Accordingly, I devised the visit to Hurst's house, which was calculated to serve two purposes.

It created a satisfactory date for the disappearance, eliminating me from any connection with it, and by throwing some suspicion on Hurst it would make him more amenable--less likely to dispute my claim when he learned the provisions of the will.
"The affair was quite simple.

I knew that Hurst had changed his servants since I was last at his house, and I knew his habits.

On that day I took the suit-case to Charing Cross and deposited it in the cloak-room, called at Hurst's office to make sure that he was there, and went from thence direct to Cannon Street and caught the train to Eltham.

On arriving at the house, I took the precaution to remove my spectacles--the only distinctive feature of my exterior--and was duly shown into the study at my request.