ity as the veiled visitor.

"The finger-prints on the dagger, although we should have adopted a
different method had we known what we know now, helped us to narrow the
investigation, for they apparently--and actually by luck--settled the
innocence of several people who might have been suspected.

"Lady Eileen Meredith came to me with a story that seemed to implicate
Sir Ralph Fairfield. There seemed just a possibility that she was right,
for I could conceive jealousy might be a motive--though, of course,
there was so far nothing to explain why the master of the house and his
valet should take to flight. I took Sir Ralph's finger-prints by a ruse,
and to me that seemed fairly satisfactory proof that he was not the
man. Of course, I was then presuming that the finger-prints were those
of the murderer.

"Then I received information that Ivan and a man my informant took for
Goldenburg had been seen at Victoria Station on the night of the murder.
I managed to find Ivan and, by a threat, got a partly formed opinion
confirmed. He knew that the murdered man was not Mr. Grell. I took from
him the pearls that were to have formed a wedding present, and let him
go after taking his finger-prints. My idea was to have him watched, for
I felt confident that he was in touch with his master--whom I believed
to be the murderer.

"But it was not enough to follow one line. We used the fact of the
striking similarity of Grell and Goldenburg to advertise for the former
under the name of the latter. The mere fact of throwing the description
broadcast, was calculated to make any attempt to escape more difficult.
Meanwhile, we were making inquiries about every one concerned in the
case by co-operation of foreign police-forces, and particularly with the
help of Pinkerton's agency in the United States. It was all
organisation, you see--the individual counted for little.

"The first attempt to communicate with Fairfield failed, not through the
working of any miracle on our part, but by patient watching. I stole a
note from Fairfield, which gave us something to act upon, in the East
End. Remember, the immediate object of our search was Robert Grell--not
necessarily for the murderer. Do you follow?"

"I think I do," answered Grell. "You wanted, at least, an explanation
from me."

"Precisely. Well, on top of that, we got a typewritten letter, informing
us of the kidnapping of Waverley. That letter was important, for its
contents showed that we