er your own last question, we should know something,"
replied Carver.

"We know something as it is," said Triffitt. "Enough for me to tell
Markledew, anyway. I don't see so far into all this, myself, but
Markledew's the sort of chap who can look through three brick walls and
see a mole at work in whatever's behind the third, and he'll see
something in what I tell him, and I'll do the telling as soon as he
comes down tomorrow morning."

Markledew listened to Triffitt's story next day in his usual rapt
silence. The silence remained unbroken for some time after Triffitt had
finished. And eventually Markledew got up from his elbow-chair and
reached for his hat.

"You can come with me," he said. "We'll just ride as far as New Scotland
Yard."

Triffitt felt himself turning pale. New Scotland Yard! Was he then to
share his discoveries with officials? In spite of his awful veneration
for the great man before him he could not prevent two words of
despairing ejaculation escaping from his lips.

"The police!"

"Just so--the police," answered Markledew, calmly. "I mean to work this
in connection with them. No need to alarm yourself, young man--I know
what you're thinking. But you won't lose any 'kudos'--I'm quite
satisfied with you so far. But we can't do without the police--and they
may be glad of even a hint from us. Now run down and get a taxi-cab and
I'll meet you outside."

Triffitt had never been within the mazes of New Scotland Yard in his
life, and had often wished that business would take him there. It was
very soon plain to him, however, that his proprietor knew his way about
the Criminal Investigation Department as well as he knew the _Argus_
office. Markledew was quickly closeted with the high official who had
seen Mr. Halfpenny and Mr. Tertius a few days previously; while they
talked, Triffitt was left to kick his heels in a waiting-room. When he
was eventually called in, he found not only the high official and
Markledew, but another man whose name was presently given to him as
Davidge.

"Mr. Davidge," observed the high official, "is in charge of this case.
Will you just tell him your story?"

It appeared to Triffitt that Mr. Davidge was the least impressionable,
most stolid man he had ever known. Davidge showed no sign of interest;
Triffitt began to wonder if anything could ever surprise him. He
listened in dead silence to all that the reporter had to say; when
Triffitt had finished he looked apatheticall