s hat, his stick, and his
overcoat and offered his hand.

"Good-by," he said, "and good luck!"

In the meantime another interview of a widely different character was
taking place in the little house which Jasper Cole occupied on the
Portsmouth Road. Jasper and Saul Arthur Mann had met before, but this
was the first visit that the investigator had paid to the home of John
Minute's heir.

Jasper was waiting at the door to greet the little man when he arrived,
and had offered him a quiet but warm welcome and led the way to the
beautiful study which was half laboratory, which he had built for
himself since John Minute's death.

"I am coming straight to the point without any beating about the bush,
Mr. Cole," said the little man, depositing his bag on the side of his
chair and opening it with a jerk. "I will tell you frankly that I am
acting on Mr. Merrill's behalf and that I am also acting, as I believe,
in the interests of justice."

"Your motives, at any rate, are admirable," said Jasper, pushing back
the papers which littered his big library table, and seating himself on
the edge.

"You are probably aware that you are to some extent under suspicion, Mr.
Cole."

"Under your suspicion or the suspicion of the authorities?" asked the
other coolly.

"Under mine," said Saul Arthur Mann emphatically. "I cannot speak for
the authorities."

"In what direction does this suspicion run?"

He thrust his hands deep in his trousers pockets, and eyed the other
keenly.

"My first suspicion is that you are well aware as to who murdered John
Minute."

Jasper Cole nodded.

"I am perfectly aware that he was murdered by your friend, Mr. Merrill,"
he said.

"I suggest," said Saul Arthur Mann calmly, "that you know the murderer,
and you know the murderer was _not_ Frank Merrill."

Jasper made no reply, and a faint smile flickered for a second at the
corner of his mouth, but he gave no other sign of his inward feelings.

"And the other point you wish to raise?" he asked.

"The other is a more delicate subject, since it involves a lady," said
the little man. "You are about to be married to Miss Nuttall."

Jasper Cole nodded.

"You have obtained an extraordinary influence over the lady in this past
few months."

"I hope so," said the other cheerfully.

"It is an influence which might have been brought about by normal
methods, but it is also one," Saul Arthur leaned over and tapped the
table emphatically with each wor