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Mr Ricardo had adown yet another

question He was inclined to ask whether or no a pot of cold cream

had disappeared from Celia Harland's bedroom; but he remembered

that Hanaud had set no store upon that incident, and he refrained

Moreover, he had come to the end of his sheet of paper He handed

it across the table to Hanaud and leaned back in his chair,

watching the detective with all the eagerness of a young author

subh slowly At the end he nodded his head in

approval

"Noill see what M Wethermill has to say," he said, and he

stretched out the paper towards Harry Wetherhout

the luncheon had not said a word

"No, no," cried Ricardo

But Harry Wethermill already held the written sheet in his hand

He smiled rather wistfully at his friend

"It is best that I should know just what you both think," he said,

and in his turn he began to read the paper through He read the

first eight points, and then beat with his fist upon the table

"No no," he cried; "it is not possible! I don't blame you,

Ricardo These are facts, and, as I said, I can face facts But

there will be an explanation--if only we can discover it"