f intense satisfaction; he did not often get such whisky. "It's
a curious thing, however, that this man with one eye should ha' been
doing all these pranks right under my nose as it were, and I never even
heard of him before."

Being aware of his methods, I was not at all surprised.

Even now, knowing that I was respectably connected, he even suspected
me, and regarded me as an impostor with rich relatives.

This story of the finding of the body on Lansdown only confirmed his
views of my powers of invention.

"As a matter of fact," observed Lord St. Nivel, "I am only a stranger
in these parts, having borrowed a friend's house for a week's shooting;
but no doubt you can tell me what this tower is, where my cousin was
kept a prisoner, and which my sister and I came across by the merest
chance."

"Cruft's Folly," replied the beaming inspector, with his whisky glass
in his hand. "Cruft's Folly has stood where it does nearly a hundred
years. It was built by some gentleman, I believe, a long while ago, to
improve the landscape, just like Sham Castle over yonder."

"But does nobody live in it?"

"No, I've always understood it was quite empty and nearly a ruin."

"Then I have little doubt," said my cousin with a chuckle, "that your
friends, Bill, simply appropriated it for their own uses."

"I suppose you'll have the place thoroughly searched, Mr. Bull, won't
you?" I asked. "There may be something hidden there which will give
you a clue to my assailants."

"You may rely upon that, Mr. Anstruther," replied the inspector, rising
and slapping his chest, "but we shall have to communicate with the
owner first."

Thus through the red-tapism of the law the chance was lost. Had the
old tower of Cruft's Folly been searched at that moment the remainder
of this history most certainly would never have been written.

CHAPTER VIII

SANDRINGHAM

When I got back to the comfort of the Magnifique, though my "cure" was
but half completed, yet I determined to bring my visit to Bath to a
close; it had been too exciting. I would come back and finish the
course of water drinking and baths some other time.

At any rate the little twinge of rheumatism in my shoulder which had
brought me there was all gone. I think possibly the shocks of
electricity combined with my agitation of mind had cured it.

St. Nivel and Lady Ethel, being tired of the "rough" shooting for the
time being, and perhaps having a sneaking liking for