rendon made his
farewell and promised to return at an early hour on the following
morning.

"My plans for to-morrow," said Peter, "subject to Mark's approval,
are these. I suggest that Signor Doria should take Brendon to the
scene in the hills where Robert Redmayne appeared; while, by her
leave, I have a talk with Mrs. Jenny here. I'm going to run her over
a bit of the past and she must be brave and give me all her
attention."

He started and listened, his ear cocked toward the lake.

"What's that shindy?" he asked. "Sounds like distant cannon."

Doria laughed.

"Only the summer thunder on the mountains, signor," he answered.

CHAPTER XIII

THE SUDDEN RETURN TO ENGLAND

A successful detective needs, above all else, the power to see both
sides of any problem as it affects those involved in it. Nine times
out of ten there is but one side; yet men have often gone to the
gallows because their fellow men failed in this particular--followed
the line of least resistance and pursued the obvious and patent
conclusions to an end only logical upon a false premise.

Peter Ganns did not lack this perspicuity. It was visible in his big
face to any student of physiognomy. He smiled with his mouth, but
his eyes were grave--never ironical, never satirical, but always set
in a stern, not unkindly expression. They were watchful yet
tolerant--the eyes of one versed in the weakness as well as the
nobility of human nature. He could measure the average, modest
intelligence of his fellow creatures as well as estimate the heights
of genius to which man's intellect may sometimes attain. His own
unusual powers, centred in sound judgment of character and wide
experience of the human comedy, had set the seal in his eyes while
graving something like a smile upon his full, Egyptian lips.

He sat next day and spoke to Albert Redmayne on a little gallery
that extended from the dining-room of the villa and overhung the
lake. Here, for half an hour, he talked and listened until Jenny
should be ready for him.

The elder expounded his simple philosophy.

"I was long out of heart with God, while striving to keep my faith
in man, Peter," he declared. "But now I see more clearly and believe
that it is only by faith in our Maker that we can understand
ourselves. 'Better' is ever the enemy of 'good,' and 'best' is a
golden word only to be used for martyrs and heroes."

"Men do their best for two things, Albert," replied Mr. Ganns. "For