nquisitive public
in order to get news," he said. "The principal thing is to investigate
it when you've got it. Who's this, now?"

The official had returned with a dapper-looking gentleman in a
frock-coat and silk hat, bearing upon him the unmistakable stamp of the
city man, who inspected Rathbury with deliberation and Spargo with a
glance, and being seated turned to the detective as undoubtedly the
person he desired to converse with.

"I understand that you are the officer in charge of the Marbury murder
case," he observed. "I believe I can give you some valuable information
in respect to that. I read the account of the affair in the _Watchman_
newspaper this morning, and saw the portrait of the murdered man there,
and I was at first inclined to go to the _Watchman_ office with my
information, but I finally decided to approach the police instead of
the Press, regarding the police as being more--more responsible."

"Much obliged to you, sir," said Rathbury, with a glance at Spargo.
"Whom have I the pleasure of----"

"My name," replied the visitor, drawing out and laying down a card, "is
Myerst--Mr. E.P. Myerst, Secretary of the London and Universal Safe
Deposit Company. I may, I suppose, speak with confidence," continued
Mr. Myerst, with a side-glance at Spargo. "My information
is--confidential."

Rathbury inclined his head and put his fingers together.

"You may speak with every confidence, Mr. Myerst," he answered. "If
what you have to tell has any real bearing on the Marbury case, it will
probably have to be repeated in public, you know, sir. But at present
it will be treated as private."

"It has a very real bearing on the case, I should say," replied Mr.
Myerst. "Yes, I should decidedly say so. The fact is that on June 21st
at about--to be precise--three o'clock in the afternoon, a stranger,
who gave the name of John Marbury, and his present address as the
Anglo-Orient Hotel, Waterloo, called at our establishment, and asked if
he could rent a small safe. He explained to me that he desired to
deposit in such a safe a small leather box--which, by the by, was of
remarkably ancient appearance--that he had brought with him. I showed
him a safe such as he wanted, informed him of the rent, and of the
rules of the place, and he engaged the safe, paid the rent for one year
in advance, and deposited his leather box--an affair of about a foot
square--there and then. After that, having exchanged a remark or two
about