isn't mine, at any rate. There is no fury like the fury of a
woman scorned--and a chap can't marry three women at the same time, and
live within the law.... If he ever did live within the law--in the face
of--_that_--which I saw in the dungeon! But I can't somehow credit
him---- And yet, who else?... Hello, there's Rhea's bell, and Mr.
Narkom, I'll dare swear. Well, I'll be glad enough to see his rotundity,
bless him!--more glad than I had at first imagined."

And that's exactly who it proved to be. Rhea's bell was certainly
useful, that was one thing. It did keep tally of every incoming visitor.
And with that huge, high, iron-spiked wall which surrounded the grounds
of Aygon Castle so utterly insurmountable, surely the murderers couldn't
have got away very easily last night. Whew! Cleek whistled suddenly, and
sat up. He hadn't thought of that! Then the murderers must be here in
this household, or in the grounds of the place still--unless Rhea's
bell had acquainted the family of their entrance or exit through the
great gate.

But the gate had been ajar last night! And he had met Captain Macdonald
prowling around on that nocturnal visit of his just after the time
when the murder must have taken place. Then _who_ set the gate
ajar? Someone in the house, of course! Someone who knew about the
thing--_beforehand_.... That opened up another avenue. He'd ask Miss
Duggan. Perhaps it hadn't been opened especially for _him_, then?
Perhaps it had been opened for--someone else. It certainly gave one to
think, as the French say.

And he was thinking to such good cause that he did not hear the door of
the ante-room open, nor the voice of the butler Jorkins repeat a name,
and it was with genuine astonishment that he sprang to his feet and saw
the portly figure of the Superintendent standing before him.

CHAPTER XII

CLEEK MAKES A STARTLING ASSERTION

Cleek and Mr. Narkom spent a busy fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, the
Superintendent learned of the tragedy which had taken place and of what
evidence Cleek had got together for him, had a cursory look round the
library and at the body itself (which they examined more minutely), and
generally took a survey of the whole appalling affair.

"Cinnamon!" ejaculated the Superintendent for the thirty-third time
since the recital of the thing. "It's a teaser, I swear! If someone in
the house hasn't done it, who the dickens _has_? When your wire came for
me to run up here, yesterday,