hey heard
the sound of loud voices, and went near enough to see that the two men
were quarrelling outside.

"He says he wishes now he had interfered, but it didn't seem worth while
at the time. That night there was an unpleasant smell of burning, which
came up to the House by the Lock, with the wind from that quarter, and
was noticed by all the servants, as well as Mr. Wildred, who asked the
butler about it at dinner. Next day, when Mr. Wildred sent down to find
out, the tent and the men were both gone."

"I suppose," I said, "that you have already taken means to ascertain
whether there are any remaining traces of such an encampment by the
backwater?"

"Certainly we have. That was done immediately, sir, and the ashes left
by a big wood fire were found close to the water; also four rough stakes
for the tent ropes, and--a coal sack--much of the sort in which the body
up there at the mortuary was sewn. There was something else, too, sir. I
wouldn't mention it thus early in the proceedings to anybody for whom I
hadn't the respect I have for you; but even as it is, I must have your
promise it shan't go any further till it comes out in the proper course
of events."

I gave him my promise, hiding my impatience as best I could.

"Well, Mr. Stanton," the inspector went on, lowering his voice, though
there was nobody within earshot, "in the wood ashes was found what looks
like a most important clue. Nothing less, sir, than the calcined bones
of four human fingers, _cut from the left hand_!"

"By Jove!" I ejaculated involuntarily, springing to my feet, and
beginning to walk nervously up and down. I hardly knew whether to feel
that I had been brought to a dead stop in my operations and suspicions,
or to tell myself that Carson Wildred was the most cold-blooded, and, at
the same time, the cleverest scoundrel who had ever walked the earth.

CHAPTER XVII

A Disappointment

"You seem surprised, Mr. Stanton!" exclaimed the inspector.

"I am surprised," I echoed, "and I intend to explain why presently.
Meanwhile, I suppose you are trying to get on the track of the second
man who lived in that tent?"

"That's what we are doing, sir--hard at it."

"You will never find him," I said.

"No, sir? May I ask what makes you so sure of that?"

"Simply because my opinion is that he does not exist--never did exist."

The inspector's jaw dropped. "But--but Mr. Carson Wildred----" he began,
when I turned on him and cut him s