long in silence, my mind confused, uncertain what to
believe and what not, yet, as I looked at the strong, beautiful face of
the girl beside me, I could not think that, whatever she might be lead
to do for the sake of someone else, she could ever have committed such a
crime herself. I also remembered suddenly Major Temple's angry remark,
made to Robert Ashton as they stood in the hall after dinner the night
before, that he would never allow Ashton to leave the house with the
emerald in his possession. Was she shielding her father? Was it he,
then, that she had seen upon the roof? We walked along for a time in
silence, then, through some subtle intuition dropping the subject of the
tragedy completely, we fell to talking of my work, my life in London,
and so began to feel more at ease with each other. By the time we had
returned to the house, it was close to the luncheon hour, and as I went
to my room, I met Sergeant McQuade, in the hall. From him I learned that
the divisional surgeon had completed his examination and returned to the
town, that the body had been removed to a large unused billiard-room on
the ground floor, and that the inquest was set for the following morning
at eleven. The detective also said, in response to a question from me,
that the two Chinamen who had left Exeter on the morning train had been
apprehended in London, upon their arrival, and were being held there
pending his coming. He proposed to run up to town the next day, as soon
as the inquest was over. A careful and detailed search of Mr. Ashton's
room and belongings had failed to reveal either any further evidence
tending to throw light upon the murder, or any traces of the missing
emerald Buddha.

After luncheon, Sergeant McQuade asked Major Temple to meet him in the
library, accompanied by Li Min, and at the Major's request I joined
them. The Chinaman was stolidly indifferent and perfectly collected and
calm. His wooden face, round and expressionless, betrayed no feeling or
emotion of any nature whatsoever. I observed, as did the detective, that
his right hand was bound up with a strip of white cloth. He spoke
English brokenly, but seemed to understand quite well all that was said
to him.

"Li Min," said Major Temple, addressing the man, "this gentleman wishes
to ask you some questions." He indicated Sergeant McQuade.

"All light." The Chinaman faced McQuade with a look of bland inquiry.

"Where did you spend last night?" asked the detecti