he
result we've told you of."

"Which result," remarked Ransford, steadily regarding Mitchington, "has
apparently altered all your ideas about--me!"

Mitchington laughed a little awkwardly.

"Oh, well, come, now, doctor!" he said. "Why, yes--frankly, I'm inclined
to Jettison's theory--in fact, I'm certain that's the truth."

"And your theory," inquired Ransford, turning to the detective, "is--put
it in a few words."

"My theory--and I'll lay anything it's the correct one!--is this,"
replied Jettison. "Brake came to Wrychester with his secret. That secret
wasn't confined to him and Glassdale--either he let it out to somebody,
or it was known to somebody. I understand from Inspector Mitchington
here that on the evening of his arrival Brake was away from the Mitre
Hotel for two hours. During that time, he was somewhere--with whom?
Probably with somebody who got the secret out of him, or to whom he
communicated it. For, think!--according to Glassdale, who, we are quite
sure, has told the exact truth about everything, Brake had on him a
scrap of paper, on which were instructions, in Latin, for finding the
exact spot whereat the missing Saxonsteade jewels had been hidden, years
before, by the actual thief--who, I may tell you, sir, never had the
opportunity of returning to re-possess himself of them. Now, after
Brake's death, the police examined his clothes and effects--they never
found that scrap of paper! And I work things out this way. Brake was
followed into that gallery--a lonely, quiet place--by the man or men who
had got possession of the secret; he was, I'm told, a slightly-built,
not over-strong man--he was seized and robbed of that paper and flung
to his death. And all that fits in with the second mystery of
Collishaw--who probably knew, if not everything, then something, of the
exact circumstances of Brake's death, and let his knowledge get to the
ears of--Brake's assailant!--who cleverly got rid of him. That's my
notion," concluded the detective. "And--I shall be surprised if it isn't
a correct one!"

"And, as I've said, doctor," chimed in Mitchington, "can't you give us a
bit of information, now? You see the line we're on? Now, as it's evident
you once knew Braden, or Brake--"

"I have never said so!" interrupted Ransford sharply.

"Well--we infer it, from the undoubted fact that he called here,"
remarked Mitchington. "And if--"

"Wait!" said Ransford. He had been listening with absorbed attention to