be living in," commented Cleek. "The Ocean Billow
Hotel is a modern establishment--lifts, electric lights, liveried
attendants, and caters to people of substance and standing."

"Yes," admitted Beachman. "When I was suspended, sir, during the
examination and this house taken over by Sir Charles, I took Mrs.
Beachman and Reggie there, and we have remained at the place,
nominally under guard, ever since. You see, being convenient and
in a straight line, so to speak, it offered extra advantages in
case of my being summoned here at a moment's notice."

"H'm! Yes! I see!" said Cleek, stroking his chin. "In a straight
line from here, eh? House next door would, of course, offer the
same advantages; and from a room on the top floor a wire-tapping
device----Yes, just so! I think, Sophie, I think I smell a very
large mouse, my dear, and I shan't be surprised if we've hit upon the
place of reception for your messages the very first shot."

"Messages, Mr. Cleek? Messages?" interposed Sir Charles. "You surely
do not mean to infer that the woman telegraphed messages from this
house? Do you forget, then, that there is no instrument, no wire,
attached to the place?"

Cleek puckered up his brows. For the moment he had forgotten that
fact.

"Still, there are wires passing over it, Sir Charles," he said
presently; "and if a means of communication with those were
established, the 'tapper' at the other end could receive messages
easily. She is a devil of ingenuity is Sophie. I wouldn't put it
beyond her and her confederates to have rigged up a transmitting
instrument of some sort which the woman could carry on her person
and attach to the wire when needed."

Here Sir Charles threw in something which he felt to be in the nature
of a facer.

"Quite so," he admitted. "But do not forget, Mr. Cleek, that the
deflected message was sent last night, and that the woman was not
then in this house."

CHAPTER XVIII

The queer little one-sided smile cocked up the corner of Cleek's
mouth. "Sure of that, Sir Charles?" he inquired placidly. "Sure that
she was not? I am told, it is true, that she left the note saying
she was going to drown herself, and disappeared four nights ago; I am
also told that since the date of Mr. Beachman's suspension this
place has been under constant guard night and day, but I have _not_
been told, however, that any of the guards saw her leave the place.
No, no, no! Don't jump to conclusions so readily, gentl