.

"About five o'clock this afternoon, sir," Whiteside replied, in a most
apologetic tone. He knew there was no sympathy and no excuse for the
detective who let his prisoner escape. "The bell rang. I went to the
door--and was shot senseless by a chemical revolver. When I came to, I
had exchanged places with the prisoner, and he and another man were
just departing. 'My compliments to Mr. Harleston when he returns,' said
Crenshaw, as he went out."

"Describe the other man!" said Ranleigh.

"Medium sized, slender, dark hair and eyes, good features, looked like a
gentleman, wore a blue sack-suit, black silk tie, and stiff straw hat."

"It's Sparrow," Harleston remarked. "Did they take anything with them?"

"Nothing whatever that I saw, sir."

"You're excused until morning," said the Chief curtly.

The detective saluted and went out.

"I am exceedingly sorry I overlooked Whiteside when I escaped from
Crenshaw's garrote in the Chateau," Harleston remarked. "The simple fact
is, I clean forgot him until I was talking with you on the telephone."

"It's just as well, Mr. Harleston," Ranleigh replied. "It served him
right. He will be fortunate if his want of precaution doesn't cost him
his job."

"No, no!" Harleston objected. "Whiteside has been punished. I intercede
for him. Let him continue in his job, please."

"Very good, sir," Ranleigh acquiesced. "But he'll be informed that he
owes his retention entirely to you."

When Ranleigh departed, after hearing a detailed account of the
evening's doings at the hotel, Harleston sat for a little while
thinking; finally he drew over a pad and made a list of things that
required explanation, or seemed to require explanation, at the present
stage of the matter:

"(1) The translation of the cipher letter. This should explain Madeline
Spencer's connection with the affair.

"(2) Did the following persons, incidents, or circumstances have any
bearing on the affair.

"(a) The lone and handsome woman, who left the Collingwood at three that
morning.

"(b) The note 'a l'aube du jour' (signed) 'M,' found in Crenshaw's
pocket.

"(c) The telephone call of the Chartrand apartment at 12:52 A.M., by a
man who said that he was 'here' and to meet him at 10 A.M.

"(d) The persons in the Chartrand apartment the previous night.

"(e) After 1 P.M. no one entered the Collingwood by the usual way, and
no one telephoned; how, therefore, did anyone in the Collingwood know of
the incident