a reasonable one, I agreed to defer the matter.

"However," continued I, "while you two are together there are some
points upon which I want enlightenment. Reserve your personalities for
another time. Is it positive that there was no one else in the house
besides yourselves and Mr. Page?"

Neither spoke, each waiting, as it seemed, for the other to reply. My
glance travelled between the two, and finally settled upon the
secretary, whose long, nervous fingers were beating a silent tattoo
upon the table.

"How about it, Mr. Burke?" I pressed him. "Your familiarity with the
house entitles you to answer."

"I can take oath there was not," he now said. Stodger had already
assured me that when he arrived every door and window was fast on the
inside. So I next asked:

"When you went to notify the police, did you depart by way of the front
door?"

"I did," he replied in a subdued voice. And Maillot immediately added:

"It was fast, Swift--bolt and spring-latch, both. I remember because
the fact made me think there might be somebody else in the house. As
soon as Burke left I went over the whole place, methodically and
painstakingly, and I can now swear, if anybody was secreted in here
anywhere, why, he 's here yet. I inspected every door and window,
upstairs and down; all were fast."

The unbroken, spotless mantle of snow outside limited the possibility
of ingress or egress without leaving betraying footprints, to either
the front or the rear door, where the paths had been kept clear.

Dismissing this nonplussing phase, I turned to the subject of the gem
once more.

"Regarding the ruby, Mr. Burke," said I, "do you know where Mr. Page
kept it?"

Maillot fixed a scowling look--not at all relieved by his discolored
eye--upon the secretary, while that young man thoughtfully shook his
head.

"No," Burke said at length; "not certainly. I never heard Mr. Page
mention it; but I have an idea that it is in a small concealed safe in
his bedroom, because there is where he keeps those things which no eye
but his own ever sees."

Was it possible that Felix Page had any hidden treasures of sentiment?
If so, here, in all truth, was a surprising side-light thrown into an
unsuspected recess of his character. I was to have a hint presently of
what was tucked away there.

But Burke had something more to say. "Perhaps,"--slowly--"you would
like to see that safe, Mr. Swift. I know where it is located, and can
save y