uish would
be alive now. That, as a thesis, is nearly as certain a thing as that the
sun will rise to-morrow. I go farther, and hazard the guess, not the
fixed belief, though my guesses are usually borne out by events, that if
Doris Martin had not been in this garden at half past ten on Monday
night, Adelaide Melhuish would not have been killed some twenty minutes
later. It is useless for you to fume and rage in vain effort to disprove
either of these presumptive facts. You are simply beating the air. This
mystery centers in and around the postmaster's daughter. Come, now, you
are a reasonable person. Admit the cold, hard truth, and then give play
to your fancy."

"Sir," said Hart, brandishing his pipe again, "I suggest that you and I,
here and now, form a mutual admiration society."

"It is a cruel and bitter thing that an innocent girl should be dragged
into association with a foul crime," said Grant stubbornly. "I am not
disputing the force of your acumen, Mr. Furneaux. My only desire is to
shield the good name of a very charming young lady."

"What's done can't be undone," countered the detective, well knowing that
Grant confessed himself beaten.

"But what is all the bother about? You heard from Miss Martin's own lips
absolutely the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Put her in the
witness-box, and what more can she tell you?"

"I am not worrying about her appearance in the witness-box," said
Furneaux dryly. "Long before that stage is reached I shall be hunting a
star burglar, or, perhaps, looking into the Foreign Office _dossier_ of
our worthy friend here, as to-day's papers hint at trouble in Venezuela.
No, sir. The county police will get all the credit. P.C. Robinson will be
swanking about then, telling the yokels what _he_ did. I, with Olympic
nod, say, 'There's your man!' and the handcuffs' brigade do the rest. So
far as I can foresee, Miss Martin's name may be spared any undue
prominence in this inquiry. I go even farther, and promise that anything
I can do in that way shall be done."

"That is very kind and considerate of you," said Grant gratefully.

"Don't halloo till you're out of the wood." said Furneaux, sitting back
suddenly and nursing his left knee with clasped hands. "I can't control
other people's actions, you know. What I insist on to-night is that you
shall envisage this affair in its proper light. We have a long way to
travel before counsel rises with his smug 'May it please you, me