ext there is
a capital M beginning a name which is clearly Myatt or Myall. Now,
_that_ is why, when Myatt came here, I took the first steps to hand to
get an impression of his finger-tips, in order to compare them with the
marks on that paper."

"But why," asked the astonished rector, "why did he come back?"

"Nothing but a bold measure to see how things were going--he came as his
own spy, that's all. He's a keen and dangerous man. Don't you remember
telling me how he called on you yesterday, though you hardly knew him by
sight, merely to ask you to persuade Mason to take a holiday? It struck
me as a little odd at the time. He was pumping you, Mr. Potswood--he
wanted to find what Mason had been saying! And he is not alone--plainly
he is not alone, for poor Mason knew they were watching everywhere. But
come--this is no time for speculation. Plummer--you must hold him
safely--we'll pick up evidence enough when you've got him. I wouldn't
leave it, Plummer--I'd take him to-night!"

"You're right--right, as usual, Mr. Hewitt," Plummer agreed. "More
especially as the rector was--well, a little incautious in talking to
him just now."

"I? What did I say?" Mr. Potswood asked, astonished. "I had no
suspicions--how could I have----"

"No, Mr. Potswood," the detective replied, "you had no suspicions, and
for that very reason, in the excitement of the narrative, you called Mr.
Martin Hewitt by his right name at least twice! And after I had called
him 'doctor,' too!" he added regretfully.

"Is that so?" asked Hewitt.

The poor rector was sadly abashed. "But I really wasn't aware of it, Mr.
Hewitt!" he protested. "I hardly think I could--but, there, perhaps I
did! Of course, if Inspector Plummer remembers it----"

"He'll be off!" exclaimed Hewitt. "With that hint, and finding the black
stuff on his hands, he'll smell a rat instantly! Come, Mr. Potswood--you
can show us the nearest way to his house, at any rate! Come--we may get
him yet!"

* * * * *

But the good rector's slip of the tongue was fatal, and Myatt was not
yet to meet the fate that fitted him. The house was not far--less than a
mile away. It was a detached house, but quite a small one--smaller than
Mason's. Plummer blocked every exit with a man, but his caution was
wasted. Myatt was gone.

There was the house and the furniture and two servants, just as it might
have been any day in the year when Myatt was out for an hour. But n