time was it when
the cab stopped before the house?" he asked.

"About one o'clock, as near as I can judge," she answered.

"What was the interval between the driver's going into the house and
the man in evening clothes coming out?"

"Scarcely any interval--not more than a minute."

"Do you know how long a minute is?" said Ranleigh, drawing out his
watch.

"Not exactly!" she admitted.

"Do you mind if I test you?"

"Not in the least."

"Then tell me when it is a minute...."

"Now?" said she.

"Fourteen seconds!" he smiled.

"Fourteen seconds!" she exclaimed incredulously "It's not possible."

"You're considerably above the average, Mrs. Winton. However, it depends
much on what you're doing at the moment. Last night when you were
watching, not estimating, you probably were nearer right as to the
interval. When, may I ask, did the driver reappear?"

"He didn't reappear--at least that I saw; he may have come out of the
house while I dozed."

"Might not the man that you saw last have been he?"

"I'm perfectly sure it wasn't. The driver was medium-sized and stout,
this man was tall and slender. I couldn't have been mistaken."

Ranleigh nodded. Her story was testing up very well on the known points.

"Now, Mrs. Winton, can you give some description of the woman in the
case--her appearance--how she was dressed--anything to aid us in
identifying her?"

"I'm afraid I can't be of much help," Mrs. Winton replied. "She was, I
think, clad in a dark street gown. In the uncertain electric light, I
could not distinguish the colour--and the men were so close to her I had
little chance to see. About all I'm sure of is that it was a woman;
slender and about the average height. I did not see her face."

The Chief nodded again.

"What about the house, Mrs. Winton? Did you see anything unusual before
tonight?"

"I saw no one but the servants--though I didn't look quite all the
time," she added with a smile. "I'm not unduly curious, I think, Major
Ranleigh, under the, to me, unusual circumstances; and in mitigation of
my curiosity, I've told no one of the matter."

"You're a woman of rare discretion, Mrs. Winton," the Superintendent
replied.

"I fear I'm a busy-body," she returned.

"I wish then there were more busy-bodies of your sort. Tell me, could
you recognize the men?"

"Not with any assurance.--Neither could I recognize the occupants of the
house," she added. "The truth is, though you may doubt, that I