ple in the town for whose opinion I care fully accept what I said
before the Coroner. As to the others, let them talk! If the thing comes
to a head before its due time--"

"You make me think that you know more--much more!--than you've ever told
me!" interrupted Mary.

"So I do!" he replied. "And you'll see in the end why I've kept silence.
Of course, if people who don't know as much will interfere--"

He was interrupted there by the ringing of the front door bell, at the
sound of which he and Mary looked at each other.

"Who can that be?" said Mary. "It's past ten o'clock."

Ransford offered no suggestion. He sat silently waiting, until the
parlourmaid entered.

"Inspector Mitchington would be much obliged if you could give him a few
minutes, sir," she said.

Ransford got up from his chair.

"Take Inspector Mitchington into the study," he said. "Is he alone?"

"No, sir--there's a gentleman with him," replied the girl.

"All right--I'll be with them presently," answered Ransford. "Take
them both in there and light the gas. Police!" he went on, when the
parlourmaid had gone. "They get hold of the first idea that strikes
them, and never even look round for another, You're not frightened?"

"Frightened--no! Uneasy--yes!" replied Mary. "What can they want, this
time of night?"

"Probably to tell me something about this romantic tale of Dick's,"
answered Ransford, as he left the room. "It'll be nothing more serious,
I assure you."

But he was not so sure of that. He was very well aware that the
Wrychester police authorities had a definite suspicion of his guilt
in the Braden and Collishaw matters, and he knew from experience that
police suspicion is a difficult matter to dissipate. And before he
opened the door of the little room which he used as a study he warned
himself to be careful--and silent.

The two visitors stood near the hearth--Ransford took a good look at
them as he closed the door behind him. Mitchington he knew well enough;
he was more interested in the other man, a stranger. A quiet-looking,
very ordinary individual, who might have been half a dozen things--but
Ransford instantly set him down as a detective. He turned from this man
to the inspector.

"Well?" he said, a little brusquely. "What is it?"

"Sorry to intrude so late, Dr. Ransford," answered Mitchington, "but I
should be much obliged if you would give us a bit of information--badly
wanted, doctor, in view of recent events," he adde