n court by
now and probably is at the Tombs. The coroner will give you permission
to visit her."

Britz walked out of the office and proceeded slowly to Police
Headquarters. In the lobby he encountered Greig.

"Come into my office," said Britz. "And ask the chief to come also."

Greig summoned Manning, and the two followed Britz into the room
occupied by the detective.

"Sit down and make yourselves comfortable," said Britz, producing a box
of cigars and offering it to the visitors. Britz summoned the doorman.

"Don't permit anyone to disturb us!" he said to the attendant.

Lighting a fresh cigar, Britz disposed himself at his desk, and, turning
toward Manning and Greig, said:

"I shall now begin to enlighten you with regard to the Whitmore case."

CHAPTER XX

Manning and Greig settled themselves comfortably in their chairs,
prepared to listen to a long recital. The extraordinary methods which
Britz had pursued in the conduct of the investigation had puzzled and
alarmed them. To the chief it had looked as if Britz were running around
in a circle, hopelessly bewildered, mistrusting every palpable lead as a
new pitfall.

There were reasons for Manning's anxiety. The department could not
afford to "fall down" on this conspicuous case. Public interest had
increased rather than diminished during the progress of the
investigation, and the newspapers had already begun to hint that the
Central Office was "bungling the job."

"Chief, I know you've been worried," Britz began, bestowing on Manning a
reassuring smile. "But from the outset I realized there was only one way
to solve the crime and nothing has developed to change my opinion."

The air of cheerful confidence which the detective wore did not entirely
relieve the chief's apprehensions, although it encouraged the hope that
perhaps, after all, Britz could save the department from the disgraceful
acknowledgment that it had failed in the most sensational murder puzzle
which it was called upon to solve in several years.

"We are rapidly approaching the culminating point in the investigation,"
Britz continued, "and I shall require your cooperation. In order that
you and Greig may help intelligently, it is necessary that I confide my
plans to you."

"Fire away!" said the chief. "We won't interrupt."

"The greatest obstacle which I have encountered so far has been Whitmore
himself," the detective continued. "His influence over the lives of
Collins, Mrs.