feels who
is presented with a puzzle in many pieces and told to put them together.

"I know what you're after," he said suddenly. "You think the
Chestermarkes murdered Horbury?"

"If you want it plain and straight," replied Easleby, "I do!"

"There's the other man--Hollis," suggested Starmidge.

"I should say they finished him as well," said Easleby. "Easy enough
job, that, on the evidence. Supposing one of 'em took Hollis off, alone,
across that moor you've told me about, and induced him to look into that
old lead-mine? What easier than to push him into it? Meanwhile, the
other could settle Horbury. Murder, my lad!--that's what all this comes
to. I've known men murdered for less than that."

Again Starmidge reflected in silence.

"There's only one thing puzzles me on that point," he said eventually.
"It's not a puzzle, either--it's a doubt. Do you think the
Chestermarkes--or, we'll say Gabriel, as we're certain about him--do you
think Gabriel would be so keen about keeping his secret as to go to that
length? Do you think he's cultivated it as a secret--that it's been a
really important secret?"

"We can soon solve that," answered Easleby. "At least--tomorrow
morning."

"How?" demanded Starmidge.

"By calling," said Easleby, "on Mr. Godwin Markham, in Conduit Street."

CHAPTER XXIV

MRS. CARSWELL?

Starmidge looked at his companion as if in doubt about Easleby's exact
meaning.

"According to what the theatre chap said just now," he remarked,
"Markham is very rarely to be found in Conduit Street."

"Exactly," agreed Easleby. "That's why I want to go there."

Starmidge shook his head.

"Don't follow!" he said. "Make it clear."

Easleby tapped his fellow-detective's arm.

"You said just now--would Gabriel Chestermarke be so keen about keeping
his secret as to go to any length in keeping it," he answered "Now I say
we can solve that by calling at his office. His manager, as Castlemayne
told us, is one Stipp--Mr. Stipp. I propose to see Mr. Stipp. You and I
must be fools if, inside ten minutes, we can't find out if Stipp knows
that Godwin Markham is Gabriel Chestermarke! We will find out! And if we
find out that Stipp doesn't know that, if we find that Stipp is utterly
unaware that there is such a person as Gabriel Chestermarke, or, at any
rate, that he doesn't connect Gabriel Chestermarke with Godwin
Markham--why, then----"

He ended with a dry laugh, and waved his hand as if the matter wer