but another tenant,
who also lives in the basement, heard the same sound, and the rum thing
was they both thought it was in Miss Rider's flat."

"What time was this?"

"They say about midnight, sir," said the porter; "but, of course, it
couldn't have happened, because Miss Rider had not been in, and the flat
was empty."

Here was a disconcerting piece of news for Tarling to carry with him on
his railway journey to Hertford. He was determined to see the girl and
put her on her guard, and though he realised that it was not exactly his
duty to put a suspected criminal upon her guard, and that his conduct
was, to say the least of it, irregular, such did not trouble him very
much.

He had taken his ticket and was making his way to the platform when he
espied a familiar figure hurrying as from a train which had just come in,
and apparently the man saw Tarling even before Tarling had recognised
him, for he turned abruptly aside and would have disappeared into the
press of people had not the detective overtaken him.

"Hullo, Mr. Milburgh!" he said. "Your name is Milburgh, if I remember
aright?"

The manager of Lyne's Store turned, rubbing his hands, his habitual smile
upon his face.

"Why, to be sure," he said genially, "it's Mr. Tarling, the detective
gentleman. What sad news this is, Mr. Tarling! How dreadful for everybody
concerned!"

"I suppose it has meant an upset at the Stores, this terrible happening?"

"Oh, yes, sir," said Milburgh in a shocked voice. "Of course we closed
the Store for the day. It is dreadful--the most dreadful thing within my
experience. Is anybody suspected, sir?" he asked.

Tarling shook his head.

"It is a most mysterious circumstance, Mr. Milburgh," he said. And then:
"May I ask if any provision had been made to carry on the business in the
event of Mr. Lyne's sudden death?"

Again Milburgh hesitated, and seemed reluctant to reply.

"I am, of course, in control," he said, "as I was when Mr. Lyne took his
trip around the world. I have received authority also from Mr. Lyne's
solicitors to continue the direction of the business until the Court
appoints a trustee."

Tarling eyed him narrowly.

"What effect has this murder had upon you personally?" he asked bluntly.
"Does it enhance or depreciate your position?"

Milburgh smiled.

"Unhappily," he said, "it enhances my position, because it gives me a
greater authority and a greater responsibility. I would that the occasion
had n