ombes' neat, schoolboy
writing, he did not look up for a minute or more, continuing to rest his
head in the palm of his hand. Then:

"So far you have not succeeded in establishing the identity of the
missing man, Kazmah?" he said.

"Not so far, sir," replied Kerry, enunciating the words with
characteristic swift precision, each syllable distinct as the rap of
a typewriter. "Inspector Whiteleaf, of Vine Street, has questioned
all constables in the Piccadilly area, and we have seen members of the
staffs of many shops and offices in the neighborhood, but no one is
familiar with the appearance of the missing man."

"Ah--now, the Egyptian servant?"

Inspector Kerry moved his shoulders restlessly.

"Rashid is his name. Many of the people in the neighborhood knew him
by sight, and at five o'clock this morning one of my assistants had the
good luck to find out, from an Arab coffee-house keeper named Abdulla,
where Rashid lived. He paid a visit to the place--it's off the West
India Dock Road--half an hour later. But Rashid had gone. I regret to
report that all traces of him have been lost."

"Ah--considering this circumstance side by side with the facts that no
scrap of evidence has come to light in the Kazmah premises and that the
late Sir Lucien's private books and papers cannot be found, what do you
deduce, Chief Inspector?"

"My report indicates what I deduce, sir! An accomplice of Kazmah's must
have been in Sir Lucien's household! Kazmah and Mrs. Irvin can only have
left the premises by going up to the roof and across the leads to Sir
Lucien's flat in Albemarle Street. I shall charge the man Juan Mareno."

"What has he to say?" murmured the Assistant Commissioner, absently
turning over the pages of the notebook. "Ah, yes. 'Claims to be a
citizen of the United States but has produced no papers. Engaged by Sir
Lucien Pyne in San Francisco. Professes to have no evidence to offer.
Admitted Mrs. Monte Irvin to Sir Lucien's flat on night of murder. Sir
Lucien and Mrs. Irvin went out together shortly afterwards, and Sir
Lucien ordered him (Mareno) to go for the car to garage in South Audley
Street and drive to club, where Sir Lucien proposed to dine. Mareno
claims to have followed instructions. After waiting near club for an
hour, learned from hall porter that Sir Lucien had not been there that
evening. Drove car back to garage and returned to Albemarle Street
shortly after eight o'clock.' H'm. Is this confirmed in any wa