's a case of--all sorts
of things. Now you're wondering, Mr. Castlemayne, why we come to you?
I'll explain. You'll see there, sir, the name--blue-pencilled--Gabriel
Chestermarke. Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke is a banker at Scarnham. You
don't happen to know him, Mr. Castlemayne?"

The two detectives watched the lessee narrowly as that question was put.
And each knew instantly that the prompt reply was a truthful one.

"Never heard of him in my life," said Mr. Castlemayne.

"Thank you, sir," said Easleby. "Just so! Well, sir, my friend
here--Detective-Sergeant Starmidge--has been down at Scarnham in charge
of this case from the first, and he's formed some ideas about this Mr.
Gabriel Chestermarke. Last night Gabriel Chestermarke travelled up to
town from Ecclesborough--Mr. Starmidge arranged for him to be shadowed
when he arrived at St. Pancras. A man of ours--not quite as experienced
as he might be, you understand, sir--did shadow him--and lost him. He
lost him here at your theatre, Mr. Castlemayne."

"Ah!" said the lessee, half indifferently. "Got amongst the audience, I
suppose?"

"No, sir," replied Easleby. "Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke, sir, entered your
stage-door at about eleven-thirty--walked straight in. But he never came
out of that door--so he must have left by another exit."

Mr. Leopold Castlemayne suddenly sat up very erect and rigid. His face
flushed a little, his lips parted; he looked from one man to the other.

"Mr.--Gabriel--Chestermarke!" he said. "Entered my
stage-door--eleven-thirty--last night? Here!--describe him!"

Easleby glanced at Starmidge. And Starmidge, as if he were describing a
picture, gave a full and accurate account of Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke's
appearance from head to foot.

The lessee suddenly jumped from his chair, walked over to a door, opened
it, and looked into an inner room. Evidently satisfied, he closed the
door again, came back, seated himself, thrust his hands in his pockets,
and looked at the detectives.

"All in confidence--strict confidence?" he said. "All right, then!--I
understand. I tell you, I don't know any Gabriel Chestermarke, banker,
of Scarnham! The man you've described--the man who came here last
night--is Godwin Markham, the Conduit Street money-lender--damn him!"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE AGGRIEVED VICTIM

If Mr. Leopold Castlemayne's last word was expressive, his next actions
were suggestive and significant. Returning to the door of the inner
room,