"Ah, Police Headquarters!" I faltered as the carriage made another turn
and drew up before a building I had reason to remember. "Uncle, what am
I to do here?"

"See a friend," he answered, as he helped me to alight. Then as I
followed him in some bewilderment, he whispered in my ear: "Inspector
Dalzell. He wants a few minutes conversation with you."

Oh, the weight which fell from my shoulders at these words! I was to
hear, then, what had intervened between me and my purpose. The wearing
night I had anticipated was to be lightened with some small spark of
knowledge. I had confidence enough in the kind-hearted inspector to be
sure of that. I caught at my uncle's arm and squeezed it delightedly,
quite oblivious of the curious glances I must have received from the
various officials we passed on our way to the inspector's office.

We found him waiting for us, and I experienced such pleasure at sight of
his kind and earnest face that I hardly noticed uncle's sly retreat till
the door closed behind him.

"Oh, Inspector, what has happened?" I impetuously exclaimed in answer
to his greeting. "Something that will help Mr. Durand without disturbing
Mr. Grey--have you as good news for me as that?"

"Hardly," he answered, moving up a chair and seating me in it with a
fatherly air which, under the circumstances, was more discouraging than
consolatory. "We have simply heard of a new witness, or rather a fact
has come to light which has turned our inquiries into a new direction."

"And--and--you can not tell me what this fact is?" I faltered as he
showed no intention of adding anything to this very unsatisfactory
explanation.

"I should not, but you were willing to do so much for us I must set
aside my principles a little and do something for you. After all, it is
only forestalling the reporters by a day. Miss Van Arsdale, this is the
story: Yesterday morning a man was shown into this room, and said that
he had information to give which might possibly prove to have some
bearing on the Fairbrother case. I had seen the man before and
recognized him at the first glance as one of the witnesses who made the
inquest unnecessarily tedious. Do you remember Jones, the caterer,
who had only two or three facts to give and yet who used up the whole
afternoon in trying to state those facts?"

"I do, indeed," I answered.

"Well, he was the man, and I own that I was none too delighted to see
him. But he was more at his ease with me than