He chattered amiably and Mark guessed that on the simple and human
side Mr. Ganns found himself much at one with his friend, Albert
Redmayne. Peter's philosophy seemed to Brendon of a very mild
quality, and he wondered how a man who looked at human nature in a
spirit so hopeful, if not credulous, should yet own those
extraordinary gifts the American possessed. Upon these, surely, and
not his genial and elemental faith, was his fame founded.

CHAPTER XII

PETER TAKES THE HELM

As the detectives travelled through night-hidden Kent and presently
boarded the packet for Boulogne, Mark Brendon told his story with
every detail for the benefit of Mr. Ganns. Before doing so he reread
his own notes and was able to set each incident of the case very
clearly and copiously before the older man. Peter never once
interrupted him, and, at the conclusion of the narrative,
complimented Mark on the recital.

"The moving picture is bright but not comprehensive," he said,
returning to a former analogy. "In fact I'm beginning to see already
that, no matter what we get at the end of the reel, there are still
a few preliminary scenes that should come in at the beginning."

"I've begun at the beginning, Mr. Ganns."

But Peter shook his head.

"Half the battle is to know the beginning of a case. I'll almost go
so far as to say that, given the real beginning, the end should be
assured. You've not begun at the beginning of the Redmayne tangle,
Mark. If you had, the clue to this labyrinth might be in your hands
to-day. The more I hear and the more I think, the more firmly am I
convinced that the truth we are out to find can only be discovered
by a deal of hard digging in past times. There is a lot of spade
work demanded and you, or I, may have to return to England to do
it--unless we can get the information without the labour. But I've
no reason to count on any luck of that sort."

"I should like to know the nature of the ground I failed to cover,"
said Brendon; but Peter was not disposed to enlighten him at
present.

"Needn't bother yet," he said. "Now talk about yourself and give the
case a rest."

They chatted until the dawn, by which time their train had reached
Paris, and an hour or two later they were on their way to Italy.

Mr. Ganns had determined to cross the Lakes and arrive unexpectedly
at Menaggio. He had now turned his mind once more to the problem
before him and spoke but little. He sat with his notebook open an