hat chequered career, though scarcely one more hideous
than this which I had deliberately sought.

It would be worse than useless to enter into a detailed description of
what my eyes turned from with loathing. There was only one possible way
of identification, however, that of finding some mark upon the partially
charred body, or _something lacking_ which might be suggestive of a
theory.

I had a theory, which as yet I had scarcely dared dwell upon in my own
mind, so wild, so improbable did it appear at any other time than dead
of night, when all strange things seem possible. But now, as I judged
what the height and size of the body must have been, and let my glance
travel almost fearfully to the left hand, I saw that which tended in a
ghastly manner to confirm it. All the four fingers were missing, having
been cut off between the second joint and knuckles.

Harvey Farnham had worn the ring given to Karine Cunningham by Wildred
on the little finger of the left hand; and in the light of this
discovery my dream of Christmas Eve came back to me as a prophetic
vision.

CHAPTER XVI

Information Laid by Carson Wildred

The case being one of great local importance, having thrown the
countryside into a whirl of excitement, the inspector himself had
thought it worth while to accompany me on my journey to the mortuary. My
name was familiar to him, he said, with a look of interest and curiosity
in his eyes; and this being so, doubtless he had not been averse to the
chance of keeping watch upon me when I went to gaze upon the body of the
mysteriously murdered man.

If he were interested in me, I was, at least, equally interested in him,
or rather in the opinions which he and brother members of the police
force might have formed.

Reticence was, of course, supposed to be observed by so important a
functionary as the inspector, but I saw that in his round, good-natured
face which caused me to hope he might be amenable to a little
judiciously applied flattery. I therefore extolled the arrangements of
the local authorities, and ended by saying that, as the sight I had just
witnessed had considerably upset me, I should be glad if he would do me
the favour of having something with me at the private bar of the
adjacent inn.

"Well, sir, it's against the rules, you know," he said, smiling
sapiently. "But I certainly consider it an honour to be invited by so
celebrated a gentleman as you, Mr. Stanton. And--if you'll go f