late in the evening that Jolly & Co.'s telephone was a private wire
leading from Covent Garden to his residence at Mirst Park. Now do you
begin to understand?"

Fielden shook his head.

"It begins to smell suspicious," he said. "I am bound to confess it
looks very like a deep-laid conspiracy. But I must confess myself too
dense to follow it."

"Oh, it requires explanation. But luck favoured me in my investigations,
and I managed to pick up a good many unlooked for clues. Still, the
fact remains that from this house here to an office next door to the
Post Club there is a private telephone. Now a child would admit that no
one would have a private telephone from here to an office in London, at
a cost of something like a hundred and fifty pounds a year, merely for
the sake of sending domestic messages. I came here to have a good look
at The Nook, as this house is called, and I found, not altogether
unexpectedly, that nobody was living here. I was told by a gardener that
the tenant had not yet taken possession, though it has been furnished
for some time. I had rung the bell a few times, and when the man came
professed I had called to see some one who used to live here.
Considering that it is supposed to be a fully-furnished house, that bell
made a great deal of noise. I am ready to bet that the house is
practically empty. At any rate, I have come here to find out for myself,
and as I believe there is nobody on the premises our task ought not to
be difficult."

"I don't like it," Fielden said. "It smells very much like burglary, and
if we were discovered we should find some difficulty in giving an
explanation which would satisfy the police. Isn't there any other way?"

Phillips waved the suggestion aside impatiently.

"You can go back if you like, sir," he said. "As for me, I will see this
thing through. We might never have such an opportunity again. And,
besides, I want to have a look at that telephone. I think we shall find
something that will open our eyes. I am not in a position actually to
prove it, but I am convinced that Jolly & Co. will be found to be part
and parcel of Copley and Foster. Now you understand why I am so anxious
to enter the house. Still, if you prefer to remain outside and leave the
matter to me----"

"Oh, no," Fielden said hastily. "Having come so far I won't turn back. I
am taking it that you are correct in thinking the house is empty."

"Of course it is, there is no question about that. The