iving at Waterloo station about dusk. I gave McQuade the address of
my lodgings and studio in Tottenham Court Road, and, as he intended
reporting at once at Scotland Yard, I left him with the understanding
that, if anything significant developed during his examination of the
two Chinamen, he would advise me and call upon me if I could assist him
in any way. I realized of course that I was purely an outsider, and in
no position to expect the police to take me into their confidence, but
on the other hand I was not only the most important witness in the case,
but my keen interest in the solution of the mystery, for the purpose of
clearing the names of both Miss Temple and her father from any vestige
of suspicion, was not lost upon the Sergeant, and I think he realized
that I might be of considerable assistance to him should the case take
some unexpected turn. He hurried off in a hansom and I followed,
stopping on my way at the Vienna Cafe for dinner. It was past eight when
I arrived at my studio, and, throwing my bag into a corner I sat down
and wrote a letter to my mother at Torquay, explaining to her my change
of plans, although making no mention of the reasons which caused the
change. I must have been unusually tired, owing to my early rise and the
varied excitements of the day, for I dozed in my chair, and was not
aroused until after eleven, when I heard a loud knock at the studio
door. I sprang up, somewhat confused, and, opening the door, found under
it an envelope containing a note, written on plain, rather cheap paper,
in a somewhat irregular but legible hand. It was from McQuade, and
requested me to meet him at once at Number 30, Kingsgate Street. There
was nothing else in the note, so without further delay I threw on a warm
coat and soft hat, and, hurrying to the street, summoned a cab. The
driver looked a bit surprised at the address, and asked me to repeat it,
which I did a bit sharply, then threw myself into the rear seat and
lighted a cigarette. Events were moving quickly it seemed. McQuade, I
felt sure would not have sent for me at this hour of the night unless
some developments of importance had occurred. I rejoiced in the hope
that the examination of the two Exeter Chinamen had resulted in the
discovery of both the missing jewel and the murderer, and thought with
pleasure of the expedition I should make on the morrow to The Oaks and
the happy tidings I should bring to Muriel. I had thought of her so
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