Jellicoe stood revealed, calm and
impassive, with an old-fashioned office candlestick in his hand.

"Who are the others?" he inquired, peering out sharply through his
spectacles.

"Oh, they are nothing to do with me," replied Badger.

"They are Doctor Berkeley and Doctor Jervis," said Thorndyke.

"Ha!" said Mr. Jellicoe; "very kind and attentive of them to call.
Pray, come in, gentlemen. I am sure you will be interested to hear our
little discussion."

He held the door open with a certain stiff courtesy, and we all entered
the hall led by Inspector Badger. He closed the door softly and
preceded us up the stairs and into the apartment from the window of
which he had dictated the terms of surrender. It was a fine old room,
spacious, lofty, and dignified, with paneled walls and a carved
mantelpiece, the central escutcheon of which bore the initials "J. W.
P." with the date "1671." A large writing-table stood at the farther
end, and behind it was an iron safe.

"I have been expecting this visit," Mr. Jellicoe remarked tranquilly as
he placed four chairs opposite the table.

"Since when?" asked Thorndyke.

"Since last Monday evening, when I had the pleasure of seeing you
conversing with my friend Doctor Berkeley at the Inner Temple gate, and
then inferred that you were retained in the case. That was a
circumstance that had not been fully provided for. May I offer you
gentlemen a glass of sherry?"

As he spoke he placed on the table a decanter and a tray of glasses,
and looked at us interrogatively with his hand on the stopper.

"Well, I don't mind if I do, Mr. Jellicoe," said Badger, on whom the
lawyer's glance had finally settled. Mr. Jellicoe filled a glass and
handed it to him with a stiff bow; then, with the decanter still in his
hand, he said persuasively: "Doctor Thorndyke, pray allow me to fill
you a glass?"

"No, thank you," said Thorndyke, in a tone so decided that the
inspector looked round at him quickly. And as Badger caught his eye,
the glass which he was about to raise to his lips became suddenly
arrested and was slowly returned to the table untasted.

"I don't want to hurry you, Mr. Jellicoe," said the inspector, "but
it's rather late, and I should like to get this business settled. What
is it that you wish to do?"

"I desire," replied Mr. Jellicoe, "to make a detailed statement of the
events that have happened, and I wish to hear from Doctor Thorndyke
precisely how he arrived at his