eeks after the coronation the Czar sent
me a gold cigar-case with his monogram in diamonds. And I don't know yet
whether that was a coincidence, or whether the Czar wanted me to know
that he knew that I had been carrying the Czarina's diamonds in my
pigskin cigar-case. What do you fellows think?"

CHAPTER III

Sir Andrew rose with disapproval written in every lineament.

"I thought your story would bear upon the murder," he said. "Had I
imagined it would have nothing whatsoever to do with it I would not have
remained." He pushed back his chair and bowed stiffly. "I wish you good
night," he said.

There was a chorus of remonstrance, and under cover of this and the
Baronet's answering protests a servant for the second time slipped a
piece of paper into the hand of the gentleman with the pearl stud. He
read the lines written upon it and tore it into tiny fragments.

The youngest member, who had remained an interested but silent listener
to the tale of the Queen's Messenger, raised his hand commandingly.

"Sir Andrew," he cried, "in justice to Lord Arthur Chetney I must ask
you to be seated. He has been accused in our hearing of a most serious
crime, and I insist that you remain until you have heard me clear his
character."

"You!" cried the Baronet.

"Yes," answered the young man briskly. "I would have spoken sooner,"
he explained, "but that I thought this gentleman"--he inclined his head
toward the Queen's Messenger--"was about to contribute some facts of
which I was ignorant. He, however, has told us nothing, and so I will
take up the tale at the point where Lieutenant Sears laid it down and
give you those details of which Lieutenant Sears is ignorant. It seems
strange to you that I should be able to add the sequel to this story.
But the coincidence is easily explained. I am the junior member of
the law firm of Chudleigh & Chudleigh. We have been solicitors for
the Chetneys for the last two hundred years. Nothing, no matter how
unimportant, which concerns Lord Edam and his two sons is unknown to
us, and naturally we are acquainted with every detail of the terrible
catastrophe of last night."

The Baronet, bewildered but eager, sank back into his chair.

"Will you be long, sir!" he demanded.

"I shall endeavor to be brief," said the young solicitor; "and," he
added, in a tone which gave his words almost the weight of a threat, "I
promise to be interesting."

"There is no need to promise that," said