"that's what we've got to find."

"Where are we going to look for it?"

"There's only one place to look for it, and that's in the house where
the murder was committed. I only wish we could get Miss Vaughan out of
it--that would give us a freer hand."

"What's the matter with the fool girl, anyway?" demanded Simmonds. "I
should think she'd jump at a chance to get away."

"So should I--but she isn't reasonable, just now. I can't make her
out. Perhaps she'll come round in a day or two, but meanwhile, if she
should happen to need help, I don't see how your men out on the road,
on the other side of a twelve-foot wall, could do any good."

Simmonds rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"What would you suggest?" he asked, at last.

"Why not put them in the grounds, as soon as it is dark, and let them
conceal themselves near the house? They can get over the wall on this
side. We've got ladders. Besides," I added, "it would be a great
mistake to give Silva any reason to suspect he's being watched. He'd
see the men out on the road, sooner or later; but they could keep out
of sight among the shrubbery."

Simmonds considered this for a moment.

"I don't know but what you're right," he agreed, at last. "We'll
arrange it that way, then," and he went away presently to call in his
men. He soon came back with them, and gave them careful and detailed
instructions as to what he wanted them to do, dwelling especially upon
the importance of their keeping carefully concealed. Then we got the
ladders and put them in place.

"Be careful not to touch the top of the wall," I cautioned them;
"there's broken glass on top, and the merest touch may mean a bad
injury."

"When you get down on the other side," Simmonds added, "take down the
ladder and hide it in the shrubbery at the foot of the wall. Somebody
might see it if you left it standing there. But for heaven's sake,
don't get mixed up so you can't find it again. Be back here at
eleven-thirty, and your relief will be ready. You've got your
whistles? Well, blow them good and hard if there's any trouble. And
be mighty careful not to let anyone see you, or you may get snake-bit!"

The men mounted the ladder, crossed the wall and disappeared on the
other side, and Simmonds and I turned back to the house. I felt as
though a great load had been lifted from my shoulders. With those two
men so close at hand, surely nothing very serious could happen to Miss
Vaughan!

Simmonds and I spent the r