but
it's hearsay that you can easily verify for yourselves when the right
moment comes. Mr. Campany, the librarian, lately remarked to me that my
old assistant, Mr. Bryce, seemed to be taking an extraordinary interest
in archaeological matters since he left me--he was now, said Campany,
always examining documents about the old tombs and monuments of the
Cathedral and its precincts."

"Ah--just so!" exclaimed Mitchington. "To be sure!--I'm beginning to
see!"

"And," continued Ransford, "Campany further remarked, as a matter for
humorous comment, that Bryce was also spending much time looking
round our old tombs. Now you made this discovery near an old tomb, I
understand?"

"Close by one--yes," assented the inspector.

"Then let me draw your attention to one or two strange facts--which are
undoubted facts," continued Ransford. "Bryce was left alone with the
dead body of Braden for some minutes, while Varner went to fetch the
police. That's one."

"That's true," muttered Mitchington. "He was--several minutes!"

"Bryce it was who discovered Collishaw--in Paradise," said Ransford.
"That's fact two. And fact three--Bryce evidently had a motive in
fetching Harker tonight--to overlook your operations. What was his
motive? And taking things altogether; what are, or have been, these
secret affairs which Bryce and Harker have evidently been engaged in?"

Jettison suddenly rose, buttoning his light overcoat. The action seemed
to indicate a newly-formed idea, a definite conclusion. He turned
sharply to Mitchington.

"There's one thing certain, inspector," he said. "You'll keep an eye on
those two from this out! From--just now!"

"I shall!" assented Mitchington. "I'll have both of 'em shadowed
wherever they go or are, day or night. Harker, now, has always been a
bit of a mystery, but Bryce--hang me if I don't believe he's been having
me! Double game!--but, never mind. There's no more, doctor?"

"Not yet," replied Ransford. "And I don't know the real meaning or value
of what I have told you. But--in two days from now, I can tell you more.
In the meantime--remember your promise!"

He let his visitors out then, and went back to Mary.

"You'll not have to wait long for things to clear," he said. "The
mystery's nearly over!"

CHAPTER XVIII. SURPRISE

Mitchington and the man from New Scotland Yard walked away in silence
from Ransford's house and kept the silence up until they were in the
middle of the Close and a