d lonely that it made my heart bleed to leave him at
all. In the early light of morning I saw a bed of daffodils growing close
by and I plucked a few and laid them on his breast because I loved him."

Tarling finished reading and looked at his assistant.

"That is the end of the Daffodil Mystery," he said. "A fairly simple
explanation, Whiteside. Incidentally, it acquits our friend Milburgh, who
looks like escaping conviction altogether."

* * * * *

A week later two people were walking slowly along the downs overlooking
the sea. They had walked for a mile in complete silence, then suddenly
Odette Rider said:

"I get very easily tired. Let us sit down."

Tarling obediently sunk down by her side.

"I read in the newspapers this morning, Mr. Tarling," she said, "that you
have sold Lyne's Store."

"That's true," said Tarling. "There are very many reasons why I do not
want to go into the business, or stay in London."

She did not look at him, but played with the blades of grass she had
plucked.

"Are you going abroad?" she asked.

"We are," said Tarling.

"We?" she looked at him in surprise. "Who are we?"

"I am referring to myself and a girl to whom I made violent love at
Hertford," said Tarling, and she dropped her eyes.

"I think you were sorry for me," she said, "and you were rather led into
your wild declaration of--of----"

"Love?" suggested Tarling.

"That's the word," she replied with a little smile. "You were led to say
what you did because of my hopeless plight."

"I was led to say what I did," said Tarling, "because I loved you."

"Where are you--we--going?" she asked awkwardly.

"To South America," said Tarling, "for a few months. Then afterwards to
my well-beloved China for the cool season."

"Why to South America?" asked the girl.

"Because," said Tarling, "I was reading an article on horticulture in
this morning's papers and I learnt that daffodils do not grow in the
Argentine."

* * * * *

POPULAR NOVELS

BY EDGAR WALLACE

Published by
Ward, Lock & Co., Limited.

_In Various Editions_

SANDERS OF THE RIVER

BONES

BOSAMBO OF THE RIVER

BONES IN LONDON

THE KEEPERS OF THE KING'S PEACE

THE COUNCIL OF JUSTICE

THE DUKE IN THE SUBURBS

THE PEOPLE OF THE RIVER

DOWN UNDER DONOVAN

PRIVATE SELBY

THE ADMIRABLE CARFEW

THE MAN WHO BOUGHT LONDON

THE JUST MEN OF CORDOVA

THE SECRET