ut to say: last night, when
I was over at the house--by the way, you can see it from here. You
passed it in the car." He indicated a red roof among poplars some three
hundred yards away, the only building in sight that stood separate from
the tiny village in the gap below them.

"Certainly I did," said Trent. "The manager told me all about it, among
other things, as he drove me in from Bishopsbridge."

"Other people here have heard of you and your performances," Mr. Cupples
went on. "As I was saying, when I was over there last night, Mr. Bunner,
who is one of Manderson's two secretaries, expressed a hope that the
_Record_ would send you down to deal with the case, as the police seemed
quite at a loss. He mentioned one or two of your past successes, and
Mabel--my niece--was interested when I told her afterwards. She is
bearing up wonderfully well, Trent; she has remarkable fortitude of
character. She said she remembered reading your articles about the
Abinger case. She has a great horror of the newspaper side of this sad
business, and she had entreated me to do anything I could to keep
journalists away from the place--I'm sure you can understand her
feeling, Trent; it isn't really any reflection on that profession. But
she said you appeared to have great powers as a detective, and she would
not stand in the way of anything that might clear up the crime. Then I
told her you were a personal friend of mine, and gave you a good
character for tact and consideration of others' feelings; and it ended
in her saying that if you should come, she would like you to be helped
in every way."

Trent leaned across the table and shook Mr. Cupples by the hand in
silence. Mr. Cupples, much delighted with the way things were turning
out, resumed:

"I spoke to my niece on the telephone only just now, and she is glad you
are here. She asks me to say that you may make any inquiries you like,
and she puts the house and grounds at your disposal. She had rather not
see you herself; she is keeping to her own sitting-room. She has already
been interviewed by a detective officer who is there, and feels unequal
to any more. She adds that she does not believe she could say anything
that would be of the smallest use. The two secretaries and Martin, the
butler (who is a most intelligent man) could tell you all you want to
know, she thinks."

Trent finished his breakfast with a thoughtful brow. He filled a pipe
slowly, and seated himself on the rai