eeping. When he returned that evening, it was just in
time to listen to Major Temple's story of his experiences in China, and,
when he had finished, it was close to midnight and the matter had
completely slipped my mind. The inquest the following morning took my
entire attention and, after that, the sudden arrest of Li Min, and our
departure for London. You know what has occurred since. I had forgotten
the matter completely until I received this telegram from Miss Temple
not half an hour before you came." I took the dispatch from the table
and handed it to the Inspector, who read it with interest.

"Why did Miss Temple send you this?" he inquired suddenly.

"I do not know--I suppose she thought it would be of interest to me."

"Did it not occur to you that it might be in the nature of a warning?"

Again I saw a chasm yawning before me. Every step in this miserable
affair seemed to make matters look blacker and more sinister as far as I
was concerned.

"Miss Temple has no reason to suspect me of any part in the matter," I
replied. "Do you think it at all likely that, if I had committed the
murder, I could have left such damning evidence as the weapon where the
police would have been certain to discover it, and wrapped in my own
handkerchief, to render my detection the easier? What is your theory of
the crime, Inspector Burns, upon the present evidence? Reconstruct the
events of that night as you think they might have occurred. I will not
take it to heart if you do me any injustice, for I am as innocent of
any complicity in Mr. Ashton's murder as you are."

The Inspector seemed impressed by my words and manner. He looked at
Sergeant McQuade, who nodded slightly. Then he transferred his gaze to
me. "I have no objection, Mr. Morgan, to outlining a theory of the
murder which seems to me to fit the facts as we know them. It may or may
not be correct, but it is my plan to work out whatever theory will most
nearly fit all the facts in my possession, and then test it from every
standpoint until it either fails, or is proven true. I shall be obliged
to you if you will indicate, when I have finished, any points which seem
to you not to coincide with such evidence as we now have before us.

"Miss Temple," began the Inspector, "knew that Ashton had her letter in
which she agreed to marry him in his possession, and she also knew that,
if Ashton delivered the emerald to her father in the morning, she would
be compelled to keep h