im volume
of verse. He was a poseur, proof of which is to be found in his patronage
of Sam Stay--who, by the way, has escaped from the lunatic asylum; I
suppose you know that?"

"I know that," said Tarling. "Go on."

"Lyne falls in love with a pretty girl in his employ," continued
Whiteside. "Used to having his way when he lifted his finger, all women
that in earth do dwell must bow their necks to the yoke. He is repulsed
by the girl and in his humiliation immediately conceives for her a hatred
beyond the understanding of any sane mortal."

"So far your account doesn't challenge contradiction," said Tarling with
a little twinkle in his eye.

"That is item number one," continued Whiteside, ticking the item off on
his fingers. "Item number two is Mr. Milburgh, an oleaginous gentleman
who has been robbing the firm for years and has been living in style in
the country on his ill-earned gains. From what he hears, or knows, he
gathers, that the jig is up. He is in despair when he realises that
Thornton Lyne is desperately in love with his step-daughter. What is more
likely than that he should use his step-daughter in order to influence
Thornton Lyne to take the favourable view of his delinquencies?"

"Or what is more likely," interrupted Tarling, "than that he would put
the blame for the robberies upon the girl and trust to her paying a price
to Thornton Lyne to escape punishment?"

"Right again. I'll accept that possibility," said Whiteside. "Milburgh's
plan is to get a private interview, under exceptionally favourable
circumstances, with Thornton Lyne. He wires to that gentleman to meet him
at Miss Rider's flat, relying upon the magic of the name."

"And Thornton Lyne comes in list slippers," said Tarling sarcastically.
"That doesn't wash, Whiteside."

"No, it doesn't," admitted the other. "But I'm getting at the broad
aspects of the case. Lyne comes. He is met by Milburgh, who plays his
trump card of confession and endeavours to switch the young man on to the
solution which Milburgh had prepared. Lyne refuses, there is a row, and
is desperation Milburgh shoots Thornton Lyne."

Tarling shook his head. He mused a while, then:

"It's queer," he said.

The door opened and a police officer came in.

"Here are the particulars you want," he said and handed Whiteside a
typewritten sheet of paper.

"What is this?" said Whiteside when the man had gone. "Oh, here is our
old friend, Sam Stay. A police description." He