ccordingly in solitude. Then Mitchington turned
to his companion.

"What d'ye think of that?" he asked, with a half laugh. "Different
complexion it puts on things, eh?"

"I think just what I said before--in there," replied the detective.
"That man knows more than he's told, even now!"

"Why hasn't he spoken sooner, then?" demanded Mitchington. "He's had two
good chances--at the inquests."

"From what I saw of him, just now," said Jettison, "I should say he's
the sort of man who can keep his own counsel till he considers the right
time has come for speaking. Not the sort of man who'll care twopence
whatever's said about him, you understand? I should say he's known
a good lot all along, and is just keeping it back till he can put a
finishing touch to it. Two days, didn't he say? Aye, well, a lot can
happen in two days!"

"But about your theory?" questioned Mitchington. "What do you think of
it now--in relation to what we've just heard?"

"I'll tell you what I can see," answered Jettison. "I can see how one
bit of this puzzle fits into another--in view of what Ransford has
just told us. Of course, one's got to do a good deal of supposing it's
unavoidable in these cases. Now supposing Braden let this man Harker
into the secret of the hidden jewels that night, and supposing that
Harker and Bryce are in collusion--as they evidently are, from what that
boy told us--and supposing they between them, together or separately,
had to do with Braden's death, and supposing that man Collishaw saw some
thing that would incriminate one or both--eh?"

"Well?" asked Mitchington.

"Bryce is a medical man," observed Jettison. "It would be an easy thing
for a medical man to get rid of Collishaw as he undoubtedly was got rid
of. Do you see my point?"

"Aye--and I can see that Bryce is a clever hand at throwing dust in
anybody's eyes!" muttered Mitchington. "I've had some dealings with him
over this affair and I'm beginning to think--only now!--that he's been
having me for the mug! He's evidently a deep 'un--and so's the other
man."

"I wanted to ask you that," said Jettison. "Now, exactly who are these
two?--tell me about them--both."

"Not so much to tell," answered Mitchington. "Harker's a quiet old chap
who lives in a little house over there--just off that far corner of
this Close. Said to be a retired tradesman, from London. Came here a few
years ago, to settle down. Inoffensive, pleasant old chap. Potters about
the town--pu