r some minutes the three men sat silent, Sir Jasper gazing
straight in front of him, Sir John Dene twirling his cheroot between
his lips, his eyes fixed upon the bald dome-like head of Malcolm
Sage, whose eyes were still intent upon his horned reptile, which he
had adorned with wings. He appeared to be thinking deeply.

"It's up to you, Mr. Sage, to get on the murderer's trail," said Sir
John Dene at length, with the air of a man who has no doubt as to
the result.

"You wish me to take up the case, Sir John?" enquired Malcolm Sage,
looking up suddenly.

"Sure," said Sir John Dene as he rose. "I'll take it as a particular
favour if you will. Now I must vamoose. I've got a date in the
city." He jerked himself to his feet and extended a hand to Malcolm
Sage. Then turning to Sir Jasper, who had also risen, he added, "You
leave it to Mr. Sage, Sir Jasper. Before long you won't see him for
dust. He's about the livest wire this side of the St. Lawrence," and
with this enigmatical assurance, he walked to the door, whilst
Malcolm Sage shook hands with Sir Jasper.

II

"Johnnie," said Miss Norman, as William Johnson entered her room in
response to a peremptory call on the private-telephone, "Inspector
Carfon is to honour us with a call during the next few minutes. Give
him a chair and a copy of _The Sunday at Home_, and watch the clues
as they peep out of his pockets. Now buzz off."

William Johnson returned to his table in the outer office and the
lurid detective story from which Miss Norman's summons had torn him.
He was always gratified when an officer from Scotland Yard called;
it seemed to bring him a step nearer to the great crook-world of his
dreams. William Johnson possessed imagination; but it was the
imagination of the films.

A quarter of an hour later he held open the door of Malcolm Sage's
private room to admit Inspector Carfon, a tall man, with small
features and a large forehead, above which the fair hair had been
sadly thinned by the persistent wearing of a helmet in the early
days of his career.

"I got your message, Mr. Sage," he began, as he flopped into a chair
on the opposite side of Malcolm Sage's table. "This McMurray case is
a teaser. I shall be glad to talk it over with you."

"I am acting on behalf of Sir Jasper Chambers," said Malcolm Sage.
"It's very kind of you to come round so promptly, Carfon," he added,
pushing a box of cigars towards the inspector.

"Not at all, Mr. Sage," sa