the same track, I see."

The next stile led to Penn's Meadow. This meadow--a large one--stretched
over a rather steep hump of land, at the other side of which the barn
stood. From the stile two paths could be discerned--one rising straight
over the meadow in the direction of the barn, and the other skirting it
to the left, parallel with the hedge.

"Here the footprints part," Hewitt observed, musingly; "and what does
that mean? Man[oe]uvring--or what?"

He thought a moment, and then went on: "We'll leave the tracks for the
present and see the barn. That is straight ahead, I take it."

When we reached the top of the rise the barn came in view, a blackened
and sinister wreck. The greater part of the main structure was still
standing, and even part of the thatched roof still held its place,
scorched and broken. Off to the right from where we stood the village
roofs were visible, giving indication of the position of the road to
Redfield. A single human figure was in sight--that of a policeman on
guard before the barn.

"Now we must get rid of that excellent fellow," said Hewitt, "or he'll
be offering objections to the examination I want to make. I wonder if he
knows my name?"

We walked down to the barn, and Hewitt, assuming the largest possible
air, addressed the policeman.

"Constable," he said, "I am here officially--here is my card. Of course
you will know the name if you have had any wide experience--London
experience especially. I am looking into this case on behalf of Miss
Peytral--co-operating with the police, of course. Where is your
inspector?"

He was a rather stupid countryman, this policeman, but he was visibly
impressed--even flurried--by Hewitt's elaborate bumptiousness. He
saluted, tried to look unnaturally sagacious, and confessed that he
couldn't exactly say where the inspector was, things being put about so
just now. He might be in Throckham village, but more likely he was at
Redfield.

"Ah!" Hewitt replied, with condescension. "Now, if he is in the village,
you will oblige me, constable, by telling him that I am here. If he is
not there, you will return at once. I will be responsible here till you
come back. Don't be very long, now."

The man was taken by surprise, and possibly a trifle doubtful. But
Hewitt was so extremely lofty and so very peremptory and official, that
the inferior intelligence capitulated feebly, and presently, after
another uneasy salute, the village policeman had vanish