on't build on it."

But soon he had made her as much excited as he was himself. He stayed
for dinner, leaving shortly before nine to keep his appointment with
Willis. Both men were to return to the house, when Madeleine would see
them alone.

Inspector Willis did not travel by Merriman's train. Instead he caught
the 5.35 to Brighton, dined there, and then slipping out of the hotel,
motored over to EASTBOURNE. Dismissing his vehicle at the Grand Hotel,
he walked down the Parade and found Merriman at the rendezvous. In ten
minutes they were in Mrs. Luttrell's drawing-room.

"I am sorry, Miss Coburn," Willis began politely, "to intrude on you in
this way, but the fact is, I want your help and indirectly the help of
Mr. Merriman. But it is only fair, I think, to tell you first what has
transpired since we last met. I must warn you, however, that I can only
do so in the strictest confidence. No whisper of what I am going to say
must pass the lips of either of you."

"I promise," said Merriman instantly.

"And I," echoed Madeleine.

"I didn't require that assurance," Willis went on. "It is sufficient
that you understand the gravity of the situation. Well, after the
inquest I set to work," and he briefly related the story of his
investigations in London and in Hull, his discoveries at Ferriby, his
proof that Archer was the actual murderer, the details of the smuggling
organization and, finally, his suspicion that the other members of the
syndicate were privy to Mr. Coburn's death, together with his failure to
prove it.

His two listeners heard him with eager attention, in which interest in
his story was mingled with admiration of his achievement.

"So Hilliard was right about the brandy after all!" Merriman exclaimed.
"He deserves some credit for that. I think he believed in it all the
time, in spite of our conclusion that we had proved it impossible. By
Jove! How you can be had!"

Willis turned to him.

"Don't be disappointed about your part in it, sir," he advised. "I
consider that you and Mr. Hilliard did uncommonly well. I may tell you
that I thought so much of your work that I checked nothing of what you
had done."

Merriman colored with pleasure.

"Jolly good of you to say so, I'm sure, inspector," he said; "but I'm
afraid most of the credit for that goes to Hilliard."

"It was your joint work I was speaking of," Willis insisted. "But now
to get on to business. As I said, my difficulty is that I suspect