d, with a smile which
was meant to be reassuring. "I'm sure you can--if you will."

"Sit down," said Ransford, pointing to chairs. He took one himself and
again glanced at the stranger. "To whom am I speaking, in addition to
yourself, Inspector?" he asked. "I'm not going to talk to strangers."

"Oh, well!" said Mitchington, a little awkwardly. "Of course, doctor,
we've had to get a bit of professional help in these unpleasant matters.
This gentleman's Detective-Sergeant Jettison, from the Yard."

"What information do you want?" asked Ransford.

Mitchington glanced at the door and lowered his voice. "I may as
well tell you, doctor," he said confidentially, "there's been a most
extraordinary discovery made tonight, which has a bearing on the Braden
case. I dare say you've heard of the great jewel robbery which took
place at the Duke of Saxonsteade's some years ago, which has been a
mystery to this very day?"

"I have heard of it," answered Ransford.

"Very well--tonight those jewels--the whole lot!--have been discovered
in Paradise yonder, where they'd been buried, at the time of the
robbery, by the thief," continued Mitchington. "They've just been
examined, and they're now in the Duke's own hands again--after all
these years! And--I may as well tell you--we now know that the object
of Braden's visit to Wrychester was to tell the Duke where those jewels
were hidden. Braden--and another man--had learned the secret, from
the real thief, who's dead in Australia. All that I may tell you,
doctor--for it'll be public property tomorrow."

"Well?" said Ransford.

Mitchington hesitated a moment, as if searching for his next words. He
glanced at the detective; the detective remained immobile; he glanced at
Ransford; Ransford gave him no encouragement.

"Now look here, doctor!" he exclaimed, suddenly. "Why not tell us
something? We know now who Braden really was! That's settled. Do you
understand?"

"Who was he, then?" asked Ransford, quietly.

"He was one John Brake, some time manager of a branch of a London
bank, who, seventeen years ago, got ten years' penal servitude for
embezzlement," answered Mitchington, watching Ransford steadily. "That's
dead certain--we know it! The man who shared this secret with him about
the Saxonsteade jewels has told us that much, today. John Brake!"

"What have you come here for?" asked Ransford.

"To ask you--between ourselves--if you can tell us anything about
Brake's earlier days--