used against Grimes. O'Ryan and I
looked particularly for it, after removing Grimes from the Venetian
casket, where my daughter Helen, Mrs. Brewster and I discovered him
lying unconscious."

"What's this Venetian casket like?" asked Ferguson before Kent could
question McIntyre.

"It is a fine sample of carving of the Middle Ages," replied McIntyre.
"I purchased the pair when in Venice years ago. They are over six feet
in length, about three feet wide, and rest on a carved base. There is
a door at the end through which it was customary in the Middle Ages to
slide the body, after embalming, for the funeral ceremonies, after which
the body was removed, placed in another casket and buried. There is a
square opening or peep hole on the top of the casket through which you
can look at the body; a cleverly concealed door covers this opening. In
fact," added McIntyre, "the door at the end is not at first discernible,
and is hard to open, unless one has the knack of doing so."

"Hum! It looks as if whoever put Grimes inside the casket was familiar
with it," remarked Ferguson dryly, and McIntyre bit his lip. "Guess I'll
go and take a look at the casket. I'll come back, Grimes."

Kent rose with the others and started to follow them to the door, but
Grimes beckoned him to approach the bed. The butler waited until he
heard McIntyre's heavy tread and the lighter footfall of the detective
recede down the hall before speaking.

"I was only going to say, sir," he whispered as Kent, at a sign from
him, stooped over the bed, "I got a box of aconitine pills for Mrs.
Brewster on Sunday--the stuff that poisoned Mr. Turnbull," he paused to
explain.

"Yes, go on," urged Kent, catching the man's excitement. "You gave it to
Mrs. Brewster--"

"No, sir; I didn't; I left the box on the hall table," Grimes cleared
his throat nervously. "I dunno who picked up that box o' poison, Mr.
Kent; so help me God, I dunno!"

Kent thought rapidly. "Have you told any one of this?" he asked.

Grimes nodded. "Only one person," he admitted. "I spoke to Miss Barbara
last night as she was going to bed." Grimes laid a hot hand on Kent's
and glanced fearfully around the room. "Bend nearer, sir; I don't want
none other to hear me. Just before I got that knockout blow in the
library last night, I heard the swish o' skirts--and Miss Barbara was
the only living person who knew I knew about the poison."

Kent stared in stupefaction at the butler. He was aroused