he man who met his death at the Cathedral. So much for that."

"Good!" muttered Mitchington. "Good! Explains a lot."

"But," continued Ransford, "what I have to tell you now is of a much
more serious--and confidential--nature. Now, do you know--but, of
course, you don't!--that your proceedings tonight were watched?"

"Watched!" exclaimed Mitchington. "Who watched us?"

"Harker, for one," answered Ransford. "And--for another--my late
assistant, Mr. Pemberton Bryce."

Mitchington's jaw dropped.

"God bless my soul!" he said. "You don't mean it, doctor! Why, how did
you--"

"Wait a minute," interrupted Ransford. He left the room, and the two
callers looked at each other.

"This chap knows more than you think," observed Jettison in a whisper.
"More than he's telling now!"

"Let's get all we can, then," said Mitchington, who was obviously much
surprised by Ransford's last information. "Get it while he's in the
mood."

"Let him take his own time," advised Jettison. "But--you mark me!--he
knows a lot! This is only an instalment."

Ransford came back--with Dick Bewery, clad in a loud patterned and gaily
coloured suit of pyjamas.

"Now, Dick," said Ransford. "Tell Inspector Mitchington precisely what
happened this evening, within your own knowledge."

Dick was nothing loth to tell his story for the second time--especially
to a couple of professional listeners. And he told it in full detail,
from the moment of his sudden encounter with Bryce to that in which he
parted with Bryce and Harker. Ransford, watching the official faces, saw
what it was in the story that caught the official attention and excited
the official mind.

"Dr. Bryce went off at once to fetch Harker, did he?" asked Mitchington,
when Dick had made a end.

"At once," answered Dick. "And was jolly quick back with him!"

"And Harker said it didn't matter about your telling as it would be
public news soon enough?" continued Mitchington.

"Just that," said Dick.

Mitchington looked at Ransford, and Ransford nodded to his ward.

"All right, Dick," he said. "That'll do."

The boy went off again, and Mitchington shook his head.

"Queer!" he said. "Now what have those two been up to?--something,
that's certain. Can you tell us more, doctor?"

"Under the same conditions--yes," answered Ransford, taking his seat
again. "The fact is, affairs have got to a stage where I consider it
my duty to tell you more. Some of what I shall tell you is hearsay--