antecedents--that'll help us," replied
Mitchington. "It may be--Jettison here--a man of experience--thinks
it'll be found to be--that Brake, or Braden as we call him--was murdered
because of his possession of that secret about the jewels. Our informant
tells us that Braden certainly had on him, when he came to Wrychester, a
sort of diagram showing the exact location of the spot where the jewels
were hidden--that diagram was most assuredly not found on Braden when
we examined his clothing and effects. It may be that it was wrested
from him in the gallery of the clerestory that morning, and that
his assailant, or assailants--for there may have been two men at
the job--afterwards pitched him through that open doorway, after
half-stifling him. And if that theory's correct--and I, personally, am
now quite inclined to it--it'll help a lot if you'll tell us what you
know of Braden's--Brake's--antecedents. Come now, doctor!--you know very
well that Braden, or Brake, did come to your surgery that morning and
said to your assistant that he'd known a Dr. Ransford in times past! Why
not speak?"

Ransford, instead of answering Mitchington's evidently genuine appeal,
looked at the New Scotland Yard man.

"Is that your theory?" he asked.

Jettison nodded his head, with a movement indicative of conviction.

"Yes, sir!" he replied. "Having regard to all the circumstances of the
case, as they've been put before me since I came here, and with special
regard to the revelations which have resulted in the discovery of these
jewels, it is! Of course, today's events have altered everything. If it
hadn't been for our informant--"

"Who is your informant?" inquired Ransford.

The two callers looked at each other--the detective nodded at the
inspector.

"Oh, well!" said Mitchington. "No harm in telling you, doctor. A man
named Glassdale--once a fellow-convict with Brake. It seems they left
England together after their time was up, emigrated together, prospered,
even went so far--both of 'em!--as to make good the money they'd
appropriated, and eventually came back together--in possession of this
secret. Brake came specially to Wrychester to tell the Duke--Glassdale
was to join him on the very morning Brake met his death. Glassdale did
come to the town that morning--and as soon as he got here, heard of
Brake's strange death. That upset him--and he went away--only to come
back today, go to Saxonsteade, and tell everything to the Duke--with t