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Our talk had brought us to Thorndyke's cha's Bench Walk, and as we entered the fine, spacious, panelled room we found a s out the tea-service on the table I glanced at him with some curiosity He hardly looked like a servant, in spite of his neat, black clothes; in fact, his appearance was rather puzzling, for while his quiet dignity and his serious, intelligent face suggested some kind of professional man, his neat, capable hands were those of a skilled htfully and then looked at his retainer "I see you have put three tea-cups, Polton," he said "No did you knoas bringing someone in to tea?"

The little ratification as he explained: "I happened to look out of the laboratoryas you turned the corner, sir"

"How disappointingly si abstruse and telepathic"

"Simplicity is the soul of efficiency, sir," replied Polton as he checked the tea-service to otten, and with this remarkable aphorisham case," said Thorndyke, when he had poured out the tea "Have you picked up any facts relating to the parties--any facts, I mean, of course, that it would be proper for you to s that there is no harham--my patient--lost all his property quite suddenly about the time of the disappearance"

"That is really odd," said Thorndyke "The opposite condition would be quite understandable, but one doesn't see exactly how this can have happened, unless there was an allowance of some sort"

"No, that hat struck me But there seeal position is evidently getting co trouble"

"They will hardly be able to administer the ithout either proof or presumption of death," Thorndyke remarked

"Exactly That's one of the difficulties Another is that there see of the will itself I don't knohat it is, but I expect I shall hear sooner or later By the way, I mentioned the interest that you had taken in the case, and I think Bellingham would have liked to consult you, but, of course, the poor devil has no money"

"That is aard for him if the other interested parties have There will probably be legal proceedings of some kind, and as the law takes no account of poverty, he is likely to go to the wall He ought to have advice of some sort"