ght of the
murder."

"That does not seem like the action of a man with anything to hide,"
commented Caldew thoughtfully.

"Unless he was facing a dangerous situation. In that case, frankness
would be his best course to remove Merrington's suspicions. The fact
that the murder was committed with his revolver is in itself a
suspicious circumstance, in spite of the apparently plausible
explanation. I have realized that all along. I had also previously
acquainted Merrington with the fact that Nepcote did not return to
France on the night of the murder, as was supposed. Merrington led up to
that point skilfully enough, but it struck me that Nepcote saw the trap,
and took the boldest course. It gave him time, at all events."

"Time for what?"

"Time to profit by Merrington's folly in putting him on his guard. Time
to permit him to make his escape, if he is actually implicated in the
crime."

"Surely you are reading too much into this," exclaimed Caldew in a
protesting voice. "Nepcote's story seems to me quite consistent with
what we know of his movements. Miss Heredith, when giving us the names
of the guests who had been staying at the moat-house, mentioned that
Captain Nepcote had been recalled to France on the afternoon of the
murder by a telegram from the War Office. Nepcote tells you that when he
reached London he found another telegram awaiting him extending his
leave. Surely that is consistent?"

"Is it consistent that the two telegrams were sent to different
addresses? They would have been either both sent to the moat-house, or
both sent to his London flat--that is, if they were sent by the War
Office. Only a relative or a personal friend would take the trouble to
send to different addresses. There lies the weak point of Nepcote's
statement."

"By Jove, there is a point in that," said Caldew, in a startled tone.
"But these are facts which can be ascertained," he added, as though
seeking to reassure himself.

"They can be ascertained too late. I have already set inquiries on foot,
but it takes some time to gain any information about official telegrams.
Nepcote has plenty of time to take advantage of Merrington's blunder, if
there is any occasion for him to do so. No matter what his explanation
is, the fact remains that he was in England, and not in France, on the
night the murder was committed, and I propose to find out how he spent
the time. But it is of the first importance to find out what has become
of th