whatever
else he may have been--a good friend. And--I don't know any more than
what happened that night."

"Tell us what happened that night," said Breton.

"Well, that night I went round, as I often did, to play piquet with
Cardlestone. That was about ten o'clock. About eleven Jane Baylis came
to Cardlestone's--she'd been to my rooms to find me--wanted to see me
particularly--and she'd come on there, knowing where I should be.
Cardlestone would make her have a glass of wine and a biscuit; she sat
down and we all talked. Then, about, I should think, a quarter to
twelve, a knock came at Cardlestone's door--his outer door was open,
and of course anybody outside could see lights within. Cardlestone went
to the door: we heard a man's voice enquire for him by name; then the
voice added that Criedir, the stamp dealer, had advised him to call on
Mr. Cardlestone to show him some rare Australian stamps, and that
seeing a light under his door he had knocked. Cardlestone asked him
in--he came in. That was the man we saw next day at the mortuary. Upon
my honour, we didn't know him, either that night or next day!"

"What happened when he came in?" asked Breton.

"Cardlestone asked him to sit down: he offered and gave him a drink.
The man said Criedir had given him Cardlestone's address, and that he'd
been with a friend at some rooms in Fountain Court, and as he was
passing our building he'd just looked to make sure where Cardlestone
lived, and as he'd noticed a light he'd made bold to knock. He and
Cardlestone began to examine the stamps. Jane Baylis said good-night,
and she and I left Cardlestone and the man together."

"No one had recognized him?" said Breton.

"No one! Remember, I only once or twice saw Maitland in all my life.
The others certainly did not recognize him. At least, I never knew that
they did--if they did."

"Tell us," said Spargo, joining in for the first time, "tell us what
you and Miss Baylis did?"

"At the foot of the stairs Jane Baylis suddenly said she'd forgotten
something in Cardlestone's lobby. As she was going out in to Fleet
Street, and I was going down Middle Temple Lane to turn off to my own
rooms we said good-night. She went back upstairs. And I went home. And
upon my soul and honour that's all I know!"

Spargo suddenly leapt to his feet. He snatched at his cap--a sodden and
bedraggled headgear which he had thrown down when they entered the
cottage.

"That's enough!" he almost shouted. "I