t," he remarked. "I
didn't expect----"

"You'd better go and get one, then," said Audrey, calculating how long it
would take three women to transport themselves from the house to the yacht,
and perpending upon the probable behaviour of Mr. Gilman under a given set
of circumstances.

"I will," said Mr. Hurley. "And I shan't be long. Keeble, where is the
nearest justice of the peace?... You'd better stay here or hereabouts."

"I got to go to the station to sign on my three constables," Inspector
Keeble protested awkwardly, looking at his watch, which also resembled
himself.

"You'd better stay here or hereabouts," repeated Mr. Hurley, and he moved
towards the door. Inspector Keeble, too, moved towards the door.

Audrey let them get into the passage, and then she was vouchsafed a new
access of inspiration.

"Mr. Hurley," she called, in a bright, unoffended tone. "After all, I see
no reason why you shouldn't search the house. I don't really want to put
you to any unnecessary trouble. It is annoying, but I'm not going to be
annoyed." The ingenuous young creature expected Mr. Hurley to be at once
disarmed and ashamed by this kind offer. She was wrong. He was evidently
surprised, but he gave no evidence of shame or of the sudden death in his
brain of all suspicions.

"That's better," he said calmly. "And I'm much obliged."

"I'll come with you," said Audrey. "Madame Piriac," she addressed Hortense
with averted eyes. "Will you excuse me for a minute or two while I show
these gentlemen the house?" The fact was that she did not care just then to
be left alone with Madame Piriac.

"Oh! I beg you, darling! "Madame Piriac granted the permission with
overpowering sweetness.

The procedure of Mr. Hurley was astonishing to Audrey; nay, it was
unnerving. First he locked the front door and the garden door and pocketed
the keys. Then he locked the drawing-room on the passage side and pocketed
that key. He instructed Inspector Keeble to remain in the hall at the foot
of the stairs. He next went into the kitchen and the sculleries and locked
the outer doors in that quarter. Then he descended to the cellars, with
Audrey always in his wake. Having searched the cellars and the ground
floor, he went upstairs, and examined in turn all the bedrooms with a
thoroughness and particularity which caused Audrey to blush. He left
nothing whatever to chance, and no dust sheet was undisturbed. Audrey said
no word. The detective said no word. B