w that something had happened, and were
going to question me. But I held up my hand.

"Don't ask any questions, but tell me as quickly, and as nearly as you
can, what you have been talking about during the last five minutes," I
said.

"Why?"

"Don't stop to ask questions. Believe in the importance of my haste.
What was it?"

"I have only been giving Mr. Wetherell a notion of the steps I propose
to take," said the Inspector.

"Thank you. Now I'm off. Don't sit up for me, Mr. Wetherell; I'm going
to follow up a clue that may put us on the right scent at last. I don't
think you had better come, Mr. Inspector, but I'll meet you here again
at six o'clock."

"You can't explain, I suppose?" said the latter, looking a little
huffed.

"I'm afraid not," I answered; "but I'll tell you this much--I saw one of
the female servants listening at this door. She'll be off, if I mistake
not, with the news she has picked up, and I want to watch her.
Good-night."

"Good-night, and good luck to you."

Without another word I slipped off my boots, and carrying them in my
hand, left the room, and went downstairs to the morning-room. This
apartment looked out over the garden, and possessed a window shaded by a
big tree. Opening it, I jumped out and carefully closed it after me.
Then, pausing for a moment to resume my boots, I crept quietly down the
path, jumped a low wall, and so passed into the back street. About fifty
yards from the tradesmen's entrance, but on the opposite side of the
road, there was a big Moreton Bay fig-tree. Under this I took my stand,
and turned a watchful eye upon the house. It was a dark night, so that
it would have been extremely difficult for any one across the way to
have detected my presence.

For some minutes I waited, and was beginning to wonder if I could have
been deceived, when I heard the soft click of a latch, and next moment a
small dark figure passed out into the street, and closed the gate after
it. Then, pausing a moment as if to make up her mind, for the mysterious
person was a woman, she set off quickly in the direction of the city. I
followed about a hundred yards behind her.

With the exception of one policeman, who stared very hard at me, we did
not meet a soul. Once or twice I nearly lost her, and when we reached
the city itself I began to see that it would be well for me to decrease
the difference that separated us, if I did not wish to bid good-bye to
her altogether. I accordingly