ll original in the methods pursued by the
great criminologist when confronted with this tableau of death and
robbery. His remarks to the Inspector were few and perfunctory. He asked
only a few languid questions of Macdougal and Lenora, who were summoned to
his presence.

"You had left the hotel, I understand, at the time when the crime
occurred?" he asked the latter.

Macdougal, grave and respectful, made his answers with difficulty. His
voice was choked with emotion.

"I brought my mistress home from the Opera, sir. I rode on the box with
Mrs. Delarey's chauffeur. After I had seen her safely in the hotel, I went
up to my room for two minutes and left the hotel by the back entrance."

"Any one see you go?"

"The door-keeper, sir, and I passed a page upon the stairs."

"Wasn't it rather late for you to go out?"

"My days are a little dull here, sir," Macdougal replied, "and my
attendance is not required early in the morning. I have made some friends
in the city and I usually go out to a restaurant and have some supper."

"Quite natural," Mr. Quest agreed. "That will do, thanks."

Macdougal turned towards the door. Lenora was about to follow him but
Quest signed to her to remain.

"I should like to have a little conversation with you about your
mistress," he said to her pleasantly. "If you don't mind, I will ask you
to accompany me in my car. I will send the man back with you."

For a moment the girl stood quite still. Her face was already ghastly
pale. Her eyes alone seemed to indicate some fresh fear.

"I will go to my rooms and put on my hat," she said.

Quest pointed through the half-open door.

"That will be your hat and coat upon the bed there, won't it?" he
remarked. "I am sorry to hurry you off but I have another appointment. You
will send, of course, for the young lady's friends," he added, turning to
Mr. Marsham, "and cable her people."

"There is nothing more you can do, Mr. Quest?" the hotel manager asked, a
little querulously. "This affair must be cleared up for the credit of my
hotel."

Quest shrugged his shoulders. He glanced through the open door to where
Lenora was arranging her coat with trembling fingers.

"There will be very little difficulty about that," he said calmly. "If you
are quite ready, Miss Lenora. Is that your name?"

"Lenora is my name, sir," the girl replied.

They descended in the elevator together and Quest handed the girl into his
car. They drove quickly through t