u
arrange to start Thursday afternoon."

I could only stare at him. He smiled as he met my gaze.

"You're looking better already," he said, "as though you were taking
a little more interest in life," and he helped himself to a cigar.

"Godfrey," I protested, "I wish you would pick out somebody else to
practise on. You come up here and explode a bomb just to see how high
I'll jump. It's amusing to you, no doubt, and perhaps a little
instructive; but my nerves won't stand it."

"My dear Lester," he broke in, "that wasn't a bomb; that was a simple
statement of fact."

"Are you serious?"

"Perfectly so."

"But how do you know...."

"Before I answer any questions, I want to ask you one. Did you, by
any chance, mention me to the gentleman known to you as M. Felix
Armand?"

"Yes," I answered, after a moment's thought; "I believe I did. I was
telling him about our trying to find the secret drawer--I mentioned
your name--and he asked who you were. I told him you were a genius at
solving mysteries."

Godfrey nodded.

"That," he said, "explains the one thing I didn't understand. Now go
ahead with your questions."

"You said a while ago that you would know all about this affair day
after to-morrow."

"Yes."

"How do you know you will?"

"Because I have received a letter which sets the date," and he took
from his pocket a sheet of paper and handed it over to me. "Read it!"

The letter was written in pencil, in a delicate and somewhat feminine
hand, on a sheet of plain, unruled paper. With an astonishment which
increased with every word, I read this extraordinary epistle:--

"_My Dear Mr. Godfrey:_

"I have been highly flattered by your interest in the affaire of
the cabinet Boule, and admire most deeply your penetration in
arriving at a conclusion so nearly correct regarding it. I must
thank you, also, for your kindness in keeping me informed of the
measures which have been taken to guard the cabinet, and which
seem to me very complete and well thought out. I have myself
visited the station and inspected the cell, and I find that in
every detail you were correct.

"It is because I so esteem you as an adversary that I tell you, in
confidence, that it is my intention to regain possession of my
property on Wednesday next, and that, having done so, I shall beg
you to accept a small souvenir of the occasion.

"I am, my dear sir,