r been tracked. Next day, using my
facilities as secretary to the Safe Deposit Company, I secured the
things in that box. Then I found out who the dead man really was. And
then I deliberately set to work to throw dust in the eyes of the police
and of the newspapers, and particularly in the eyes of young Master
Spargo there. I had an object."

"What?" asked Breton.

"What! Knowing all I did, I firmly believed that Marbury, or, rather,
Maitland, had been murdered by either Cardlestone or Elphick. I put it
to myself in this way, and my opinion was strengthened as you, Spargo,
inserted news in your paper--Maitland, finding himself in the vicinity
of Cardlestone after leaving Aylmore's rooms that night, turned into
our building, perhaps just to see where Cardlestone lived. He met
Cardlestone accidentally, or he perhaps met Cardlestone and Elphick
together--they recognized each other. Maitland probably threatened to
expose Cardlestone, or, rather, Chamberlayne--nobody, of course, could
know what happened, but my theory was that Chamberlayne killed him.
There, at any rate, was the fact that Maitland was found murdered at
Chamberlayne's very threshold. And, in the course of a few days, I
proved, to my own positive satisfaction, by getting access to
Chamberlayne's rooms in his absence that Maitland had been there, had
been in those rooms. For I found there, in Chamberlayne's desk, the
rare Australian stamps of which Criedir told at the inquest. That was
proof positive."

Spargo looked at Breton. They knew what Myerst did not know--that the
stamps of which he spoke were lying in Spargo's breast pocket, where
they had lain since he had picked them up from the litter and confusion
of Chamberlayne's floor.

"Why," asked Breton, after a pause, "why did you never accuse
Cardlestone, or Chamberlayne, of the murder?"

"I did! I have accused him a score of times--and Elphick, too," replied
Myerst with emphasis. "Not at first, mind you--I never let Chamberlayne
know that I ever suspected him for some time. I had my own game to
play. But at last--not so many days ago--I did. I accused them both.
That's how I got the whip hand of them. They began to be afraid--by
that time Elphick had got to know all about Cardlestone's past as
Chamberlayne. And as I tell you, Elphick's fond of Cardlestone. It's
queer, but he is. He--wants to shield him."

"What did they say when you accused them?" asked Breton. "Let's keep to
that point--never mind