es seated near the breakfast tray, as if just about completing a
repast, which had in reality been finished some time before.

"Good-morning, ladies," said he, laying down his hat, and at once
drawing a chair to the table, with the air of a man whose time is
money. "Having completed my investigations here,--that is, in this
immediate neighborhood,--I am prepared with my written report, which I
submit to you, Miss Wardour. Will you please read it, and then give me
further instructions?" and he proffered her a neatly-folded paper, of
goodly proportions.

Constance glanced at it dubiously, but did not take it from his hand.

"Please read it, Mr. Belknap," she said, appealingly. "I am sure I shall
comprehend it better, and my aunt shares my anxiety to hear and
understand its contents."

"As you please," assented he, opening the manuscript. "I have made it as
brief as possible; of course, it was necessary to be statistical."

The report began with the usual form, day and date, circumstances under
which his services were retained, etc., a statement of the case as it
was made to him, then came the following:

"Arrived in W---- early on Sunday morning, walking from the first
station northward. Found Wardour Place easily from Mr. Lamotte's
description. Gained admittance, and was at once permitted to inspect the
room where the robbers found an entrance; found that it had been
previously examined, and could not feel quite sure that some clue had
not been effaced or something disturbed that might have evolved a clue.
Miss Wardour assures me that nothing of value was taken from this room,
and I am inclined to think that the robbers had hoped to find
themselves in the dining room, and gain access to the plate closet.

"Finding themselves instead in the library, a room where, there being no
man of the house, it could hardly be supposed valuables were kept, or
money or papers of worth locked away; they, after a vigorous search,
opened the door of the hall; here they found themselves at once at the
foot of the stairs and, naturally, one ascends to explore. The first
door that he tries is the door of Miss Wardour's dressing room; and,
having examined that door, I am compelled to think that Miss Wardour,
for once, forgot to lock it. Had it been locked the explorer would
naturally have passed on, trying the other doors and some of these other
doors were certainly not locked.

"The burglary was effected with the utmost quiet, and th