ground that they had work
to do during the afternoon; Rathbury accepted it, evidently as a matter
of course.

"My respects," he said, lifting his glass. "Well, now, perhaps you'll
just tell me what you know of this man? I may as well tell you, Mr. and
Mrs. Walters, that he was found dead in Middle Temple Lane this
morning, at a quarter to three; that there wasn't anything on him but
his clothes and a scrap of paper which bore this gentleman's name and
address; that this gentleman knows nothing whatever of him, and that I
traced him here because he bought a cap at a West End hatter's
yesterday, and had it sent to your hotel."

"Yes," said Mrs. Walters quickly, "that's so. And he went out in that
cap last night. Well--we don't know much about him. As I said, he came
in here about a quarter past twelve yesterday morning, and booked
Number 20. He had a porter with him that brought a trunk and a
bag--they're in 20 now, of course. He told me that he had stayed at
this house over twenty years ago, on his way to Australia--that, of
course, was long before we took it. And he signed his name in the book
as John Marbury."

"We'll look at that, if you please," said Rathbury.

Walters fetched in the register and turned the leaf to the previous
day's entries. They all bent over the dead man's writing.

"'John Marbury, Coolumbidgee, New South Wales,'" said Rathbury.
"Ah--now I was wondering if that writing would be the same as that on
the scrap of paper, Mr. Breton. But, you see, it isn't--it's quite
different."

"Quite different," said Breton. He, too, was regarding the handwriting
with great interest. And Rathbury noticed his keen inspection of it,
and asked another question.

"Ever seen that writing before?" he suggested.

"Never," answered Breton. "And yet--there's something very familiar
about it."

"Then the probability is that you have seen it before," remarked
Rathbury. "Well--now we'll hear a little more about Marbury's doings
here. Just tell me all you know, Mr. and Mrs. Walters."

"My wife knows most," said Walters. "I scarcely saw the man--I don't
remember speaking with him."

"No," said Mrs. Walters. "You didn't--you weren't much in his way.
Well," she continued, "I showed him up to his room. He talked a
bit--said he'd just landed at Southampton from Melbourne."

"Did he mention his ship?" asked Rathbury. "But if he didn't, it
doesn't matter, for we can find out."

"I believe the name's on his things,"