in his eye
deepened. "Don't tell me that his sins have found him out at last!"

"I have to tell you something much more serious than that," she
answered soberly. "Come along and stick that bag in the car. We can
talk while I drive you to the house. To begin with, Simon Varr was
found in his kitchen garden this morning--stabbed to the heart."

Peter Creighton had a fashion of receiving such bits of news in a
little silence that gave him time to gather his wits. Miss Ocky saw
that the good humor was gone from his face which was now grave and
stern. He did not speak until he had deposited his bag in the tonneau
of the car and seated himself at her side in the front.

"Murdered," he said; it was not a question.

"The doctor says the blow could not have been self-inflicted." She
touched the starter and turned the car homeward. "Yes--murdered."

"That is terrible, Miss Copley. I feel deeply shocked. Has the
murderer been identified?"

"I can't say positively. He was found about six o'clock this morning
by the cook, and you can imagine that we have been simply inundated
with police and officials ever since. They've been doing a lot of
whispering and conferring and I think they _do_ suspect some one, but
of course they haven't confided in me."

"Excuse me, Miss Copley--just who are you? I gather you are a member
of the Varr household."

"He was my brother-in-law. He married my sister. I've been visiting
them about two months."

"I see. Thank you. Now--what about Krech and the police?"

"Well, they notified Jason Bolt--he was Simon's partner--and he came
right over, bringing Mr. Krech, who is staying with him. There was a
lot of talk about a mysterious monk--I know something about him,
too!--and just when it was time to go to the train, Mr. Norvallis was
questioning your friend in the living-room. So I slipped away and came
to your rescue. It's as well I did--there are no taxis in Hambleton!"

"It was very good of you to remember me, with so much else to think
about. You--er--how did you know I was expected?"

"Mr. Varr told us yesterday that Mr. Krech was sending for you."

"'Us'?" He turned to look at her while she answered. "How many people
knew that I was coming, do you suppose?"

"Oh--several, anyway! Why?"

"I'm wondering if the news could have reached the ears of the
murderer," he explained. "Some one was persecuting Mr. Varr, we know
that. If he suddenly learned that a detecti