man, and why shouldn't he enjoy hisself. Not that a woman could
wish for a better lodger, though he only bin 'ere a week or so, he
givin' no trouble and havin' a latch-key."

"I want to see Mr. Clancy also," said Jennings impatiently, while
Twining turned on the electric light in the hall. "Take us down to the
basement."

The woman would have objected again, but from the stern expression on
her visitors' faces she judged that it would be wiser to obey. She
descended, candle in hand, turning on the lights as she went down. In
the sitting-room she paused and faced the detective. "Do tell me
what's wrong, sir?" she asked. "Thomas is a fool, but we're newly wed
and I shouldn't like anything to 'appen to 'im, though he do take
fondly-like to the bottle."

"When did Thomas go out?"

"At eight, and Mr. Clancy at nine, though Mr. Clancy havin' a
latch-key, don't give me trouble lettin' him in which Thomas does."

"Ah!" said Jennings, with a side-glance at the inspector, "so your
husband goes out often?"

"He do, sir. Three times a week. I 'ave tried to break 'im of these
larky 'abits but he won't do what I arsks him. I wish I'd stopped at
bein' Pill," wailed Mrs. Barnes, wiping her eyes. "An' if Thomas is
drunk and bail bein' required--"

"I don't know if your husband is drunk or sober," interrupted Jennings.
"We are on a different errand. Tell me, Mrs. Barnes, do you know if
Miss Loach had a secret entrance to this room?"

"Lor no, sir," cried the woman, casting a surprised glance round,
"whatever would she 'ave that for, pore dear?"

"The furniture is oddly placed," said Twining.

And indeed it was. Tables and chairs and sofa were ranged in two lines
on either side of the room, leaving the middle portion bare. The floor
was covered with a Turkey carpet down the centre, but the sides of the
floor were without covering. Mrs. Barnes explained this.

"Miss Loach liked to 'ave things straight this way for the night, bein'
of tidy 'abits. She thought the floor bein' clear left the 'ousemaid,
who was Geraldine, room to sweep and dust thoroughly. Mr. Clancy 'ave
the same fancy, though being a man as tidy as ever was."

"Strange Mr. Clancy should be tidy," said Jennings drily. "He
certainly is not so in his dress. Now the best thing you can do, Mrs.
Barnes, is to go to bed."

"An' leave you 'ere," screeched the cook indignantly. "Why, whatever
would Mr. Clancy say, he being respectable."

"Very goo