he left it to me to use
my best judgment in case her little plan for getting a confession
didn't work. So I thought I'd better not wait any longer, seeing how
late it is and how long after the time limit she set--and all."

"Do I understand Mrs. Gosnold gave you permission to break into
my room with--these people?" Sally demanded.

"No, miss--not exactly. As I say, she told me to use my best judgment
in case the jewels weren't returned. And, as I've said, it was getting
late, and Mrs. Gosnold nowhere to be found, and I thought I'd better
get busy."

"Mrs. Gosnold has disappeared?"

"Well, you might call it that. Anyway, we can't seem to find any trace
of her. I've got an idea that maid of hers knows something, but if she
does she won't talk to me. And considering that, and everything--the
circumstances being so unusual all around--it seemed to be up to me to
take some steps to make sure nothing was wrong."

He faltered, patently embarrassed by a distasteful task.

"Well?" Sally insisted coolly. "Still you've given me no reason for
this outrageous intrusion and accusation."

"No, miss; I'm coming to that. You see, the first thing was to get
that letter-box opened and examine those envelopes. I got several of
the gentlemen to act as a sort of a committee, so as nobody could kick
on the ground that everything wasn't done open and aboveboard."

"You found no confession, I gather?" Mrs. Standish interpolated.

"No, ma'am--no confession. All but two of the cards were blank. The
two had something written on them--anonymous information, so to speak.
I brought them along so that Miss Manwaring would understand, in case
there was any mistake, it wasn't my fault."

He fumbled in a pocket, brought forth the cards, and with some
hesitation handed them over to Sally.

Both bore messages laboriously printed in pencil, of much the same
tenor:

"_Suggest you look into Miss Manwaring's antecedents--also her
actions between one and three o'clock last night_."

"_Ask Miss Manwaring what she was doing out of bed after one last
night--search of her room might prove helpful_."

Silently Sally returned the cards.

"You see," the detective apologised heavily, "after that, there wasn't
anything for it but to ask you to explain."

"There is nothing to explain; the charge is preposterous."

"Yes, miss--that is, I hope so, for your sake. All the same, I had to
ask you. Most of the gentlemen present when I opened the envelopes