most
distinguished form, answered it.

"This is Mr. Trent, who is authorized by Mrs. Manderson to go over the
house and make inquiries," explained the detective. "He would like to
hear your story." Martin bowed distantly. He recognized Trent for a
gentleman. Time would show whether he was what Martin called a gentleman
in every sense of the word.

"I observed you approaching the house, sir," said Martin with impassive
courtesy. He spoke with a slow and measured utterance. "My instructions
are to assist you in every possible way. Should you wish me to recall
the circumstances of Sunday night?"

"Please," said Trent with ponderous gravity. Martin's style was making
clamorous appeal to his sense of comedy. He banished with an effort all
vivacity of expression from his face.

"I last saw Mr. Manderson--"

"No, not that yet," Trent checked him quietly. "Tell me all you saw of
him that evening--after dinner, say. Try to recollect every little
detail."

"After dinner, sir?--yes. I remember that after dinner Mr. Manderson and
Mr. Marlowe walked up and down the path through the orchard, talking. If
you ask me for details, it struck me they were talking about something
important, because I heard Mr. Manderson say something when they came in
through the back entrance. He said, as near as I can remember: 'If
Harris is there, every minute is of importance. You want to start right
away. And not a word to a soul.' Mr. Marlowe answered: 'Very well. I
will just change out of these clothes and then I'm ready'--or words to
that effect. I heard this plainly as they passed the window of my
pantry. Then Mr. Marlowe went up to his bedroom and Mr. Manderson
entered the library and rang for me. He handed me some letters for the
postman in the morning and directed me to sit up, as Mr. Marlowe had
persuaded him to go for a drive in the car by moonlight."

"That was curious," remarked Trent.

"I thought so, sir. But I recollected what I had heard about 'not a word
to a soul,' and I concluded that this about a moonlight drive was
intended to mislead."

"What time was this?"

"It would be about ten, sir, I should say. After speaking to me, Mr.
Manderson waited until Mr. Marlowe had come down and brought round the
car. He then went into the drawing-room, where Mrs. Manderson was."

"Did that strike you as curious?"

Martin looked down his nose. "If you ask me the question, sir," he said
with reserve, "I had not known him enter that r