said this so naturally and with such assurance that Tarling was
staggered. Before he had time to speak the other went on:

"Yes, I can truthfully say that I was in Mr. Lyne's confidence. He told
me a great deal more about himself than he has told anybody and----"

"One moment," said Tarling, and he spoke slowly. "Will you please tell me
what you did with the revolver which you found on Mr. Lyne's desk? It was
a Colt automatic, and it was loaded."

Blank astonishment showed in Mr. Milburgh's eyes.

"A loaded pistol?" he asked, raising his eyebrows, "but, my dear good Mr.
Tarling, whatever are you talking about? I never found a loaded pistol on
Mr. Lyne's desk--poor fellow! Mr. Lyne objected as much to these deadly
weapons as myself."

Here was a facer for Tarling, but he betrayed no sign either of
disappointment or surprise. Milburgh was frowning as though he were
attempting to piece together some half-forgotten recollection.

"Is it possible," he said in a shocked voice, "that when you examined my
house the other day it was with the object of discovering such a weapon
as this!"

"It's quite possible," said Tarling coolly, "and even probable. Now, I'm
going to be very straightforward with you, Mr. Milburgh. I suspect you
know a great deal more about this murder than you have told us, and that
you had ever so much more reason for wishing Mr. Lyne was dead than you
are prepared to admit at this moment. Wait," he said, as the other opened
his mouth to speak. "I am telling you candidly that the object of my
first visit to these Stores was to investigate happenings which looked
very black against you. It was hardly so much the work of a detective as
an accountant," he said, "but Mr. Lyne thought that I should be able to
discover who was robbing the firm."

"And did you?" asked Milburgh coolly. There was the ghost of a smile
still upon his face, but defiance shone in his pale eyes.

"I did not, because I went no further in the matter after you had
expressed your agreement with Mr. Lyne that the firm had been robbed by
Odette Rider."

He saw the man change colour, and pushed home his advantage.

"I am not going to inquire too closely into your reasons for attempting
to ruin an innocent girl," he said sternly. "That is a matter for
your own conscience. But I tell you, Mr. Milburgh, that if you are
innocent--both of the robbery and of the murder--then I've never met a
guilty person in my life."

"What do you mean?"