g within but sundry clothes hanging from
pegs.

"Arn't in here," said the sergeant, after a final look round. "Been no
struggle--no sign of anyone having been took ill. Don't like one thing,
Jem," he added.

"Well," said the man, "if you mean, pardner, that everything looks too
tidy, and as if things had been straightened up all but the table-kiver,
that's just what I was a-thinking."

"Right," said the sergeant; "that was the one thing forgotten or left in
the hurry."

"Oh, no," said Guest quickly. "I see we have raised a false alarm."

"Maybe, sir," said the sergeant firmly, "but I'm not satisfied yet.
Let's go back in the other room, please. I want to know what that
table-cover means. Hallo! What's this?" he said sharply, as he stooped
down and picked up a piece of composition candle, gnawed nearly all
away. "Where's the candlestick?"

"Here," said Guest, pointing to where a little old-fashioned candlestick
lay by a stand containing folios of dried plants.

"Well, sir, that was knocked down," said the sergeant.

"We are wasting time," said Stratton firmly. "See if that lock is
uninjured, my man, so that the door will close."

"Stop a bit, sir, please," said the sergeant; "we haven't done yet."

He stepped at once to the panelled door on the left of the fireplace,
turned the handle, threw it open, and made his light play in the long,
deep, narrow closet, one side of which was filled from floor to ceiling
by a rack laden with books of pressed plants.

"Looks as if it had once been a passage," said the sergeant, "oak panels
right over the ceiling. Well, nobody there," he continued, as he backed
out and closed the door.

"That will do," said Stratton, speaking more firmly now.

"My friend and I made a mistake. We are much obliged for all you have
done, and--"

"Not quite done, sir," said the sergeant grimly; and he crossed to the
other side of the fireplace, took hold of the handle of the closed-up
door, left to make both sides match, and tried to turn it, but it was
fast.

Stratton turned ghastly, but he was in the shade.

"No cupboard there," said Guest sharply.

The sergeant turned quickly, and his light flashed across the faces of
the two friends. He saw Stratton's wild look, and he tapped on the
panel.

"No cupboard, sir? Sounds hollow, too."

Guest caught sight of his friend's face at the same moment, and his
pulses leaped; a confused mist of memories flooded his brain, and
som