himself with sorrow, and threatens to 'do in' the person who is
responsible for this crime. You can interview him later. I doubt whether
you will get much out of him, because he is absolutely incoherent. Lyne
was something more than human in his eyes, and I should imagine that the
only decent emotion he has had in his life is this affection for a man
who was certainly good to him, whether he was sincere in his philanthropy
or otherwise. Now here are a few of the facts which have not been made
public." Cresswell settled himself back in his chair and ticked off on
his fingers the points as he made them.

"You know that around Lyne's chest a silk night-dress was discovered?"

Tarling nodded.

"Under the night-dress, made into a pad, evidently with the object of
arresting the bleeding, were two handkerchiefs, neatly folded, as though
they had been taken from a drawer. They were ladies' handkerchiefs, so we
may start on the supposition that there is a woman in the case."

Tarling nodded.

"Now another peculiar feature of the case, which happily has escaped the
attention of those who saw the body first and gave particulars to the
newspapers, was that Lyne, though fully dressed, wore a pair of thick
felt slippers. They were taken out of his own store yesterday evening, as
we have ascertained, by Lyne himself, who sent for one of his assistants
to his office and told him to get a pair of very soft-soled slippers.

"The third item is that Lyne's boots were discovered in the deserted
motor-car which was drawn up by the side of the road a hundred yards from
where the body was lying.

"And the fourth feature--and this explains why I have brought you into
the case--is that in the car was discovered his bloodstained coat and
waistcoat. In the right-hand pocket of the latter garment," said
Cresswell, speaking slowly, "was found this." He took from his drawer a
small piece of crimson paper two inches square, and handed it without
comment to the detective.

Tarling took the paper and stared. Written in thick black ink were four
Chinese characters, "_tzu chao fan nao_"--"He brought this trouble
upon himself."

CHAPTER VI

THE MOTHER OF ODETTE RIDER

The two men looked at one another in silence.

"Well?" said the Commissioner at last.

Tarling shook his head.

"That's amazing," he said, and looked at the little slip of paper between
his finger and thumb.

"You see why I am bringing you in," said the Commission