e the bungalow and
my uncle was very interested. Finally he decided that he would
remain for the night, at any rate, and we made him put up with us
and occupy Mrs. Gerry's spare bedroom, instead of going to the Duchy
Hotel as he intended.

"He stopped on and liked to lend a hand with the building sometimes
after the builders had gone. He and Michael often spent hours of
these long evenings there together; and I would take out tea to
them.

"Uncle Robert had told us about his engagement to a young woman, the
sister of a comrade in the war. She was stopping at Paignton with
her parents and he was now going to return to her. He made us
promise to come to Paignton next August for the Torbay Regatta; and
in secret I begged him to write to both, my other uncles and
explain that he was now satisfied Michael had done his bit in the
war. He consented to do so and thus it looked as though our
anxieties would soon be at an end.

"Last night Uncle Robert and Michael went, after an early tea, to
the bungalow, but I did not accompany them on this occasion. They
ran round by road on Uncle Robert's motor bicycle, my husband
sitting behind him, as he always did.

"Supper time came and neither of them appeared. I am speaking of
last night now. I did not bother till midnight, but then I grew
frightened. I went to the police station, saw Inspector Halfyard,
and told him that my husband and uncle had not come back from
Foggintor and that I was anxious about them. He knew them both by
sight and my husband personally, for he had been of great use to
Michael when the moss depot was at work. That is all I can tell
you."

Mrs. Pendean stopped and Brendon rose.

"What remains to be told I will get from Inspector Halfyard
himself," he said. "And you must let me congratulate you on your
statement. It would have been impossible to put the past situation
more clearly before me. The great point you made is that your
husband and Captain Redmayne were entirely reconciled and left you
in complete friendship when you last saw them. You can assure me of
that?"

"Most emphatically."

"Have you looked into your uncle's room since he disappeared?"

"No, it has not been touched."

"Again thank you, Mrs. Pendean. I shall see you some time to-day."

"Can you give me any sort of hope?"

"As yet I know nothing of the actual event, and must not therefore
offer you hope, or tell you not to hope."

She shook his hand and a fleeting ghost of a smil