d deal! Out with it,
then, man, for Heaven's sake."

But Spargo shook his head.

"Not now, Breton," he answered. "Presently, I tell you, for Miss
Aylmore's sake, and your own, the first thing to do is to get on your
guardian's track. We must--must, I say!--and at once."

Breton stood staring at Spargo for a moment as if he could not credit
his own senses. Then he suddenly motioned Spargo out of the room.

"Come on!" he said. "I know who'll know where he is, if anybody does."

"Who, then?" asked Spargo, as they hurried out.

"Cardlestone," answered Breton, grimly. "Cardlestone!"

CHAPTER THIRTY

REVELATION

There was as much bright sunshine that morning in Middle Temple Lane as
ever manages to get into it, and some of it was shining in the entry
into which Spargo and Breton presently hurried. Full of haste as he was
Breton paused at the foot of the stair. He looked down at the floor and
at the wall at its side.

"Wasn't it there?" he said in a low voice, pointing at the place he
looked at. "Wasn't it there, Spargo, just there, that Marbury, or,
rather, Maitland, was found?"

"It was just there," answered Spargo.

"You saw him?"

"I saw him."

"Soon--afterwards?"

"Immediately after he was found. You know all that, Breton. Why do you
ask now?"

Breton, who was still staring at the place on which he had fixed his
eyes on walking into the entry, shook his head.

"Don't know," he answered. "I--but come on--let's see if old
Cardlestone can tell us anything."

There was another charwoman, armed with pails and buckets, outside
Cardlestone's door, into which she was just fitting a key. It was
evident to Spargo that she knew Breton, for she smiled at him as she
opened the door.

"I don't think Mr. Cardlestone'll be in, sir," she said. "He's
generally gone out to breakfast at this time--him and Mr. Elphick goes
together."

"Just see," said Breton. "I want to see him if he is in." The charwoman
entered the chambers and immediately screamed.

"Quite so," remarked Spargo. "That's what I expected to hear.
Cardlestone, you see, Breton, is also--off!"

Breton made no reply. He rushed after the charwoman, with Spargo in
close attendance.

"Good God--another!" groaned Breton.

If the confusion in Elphick's rooms had been bad, that in Cardlestone's
chambers was worse. Here again all the features of the previous scene
were repeated--drawers had been torn open, papers thrown about; the
hearth was ch