llowed her into the drawing-room, and, threading my way amongst the
litter of small tables and miscellaneous furniture by which ladies
nowadays convert their special domain into the semblance of a broker's
shop, let go my anchor in the vicinity of the fireplace to await the
parlourmaid's report.

I had not long to wait, for in less than a minute Miss Gibson herself
entered the room. She wore her hat and gloves, and I congratulated
myself on my timely arrival.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon, Dr. Jervis," she said,
holding out her hand with a frank and friendly manner, "but you are very
welcome all the same. You have come to tell me something?"

"On the contrary," I replied, "I have come to ask you something."

"Well, that is better than nothing," she said, with a shade of
disappointment. "Won't you sit down?"

I seated myself with caution on a dwarf chair of scrofulous aspect, and
opened my business without preamble.

"Do you remember a thing called a 'Thumbograph'?"

"Indeed I do," she replied with energy. "It was the cause of all this
trouble."

"Do you know if the police took possession of it?"

"The detective took it to Scotland Yard that the finger-print experts
might examine it and compare the two thumb-prints; and they wanted to
keep it, but Mrs. Hornby was so distressed at the idea of its being
used in evidence that they let her have it back. You see, they really
had no further need of it, as they could take a print for themselves
when they had Reuben in custody; in fact, he volunteered to have a print
taken at once, as soon as he was arrested, and that was done."

"So the 'Thumbograph' is now in Mrs. Hornby's possession?"

"Yes, unless she has destroyed it. She spoke of doing so."

"I hope she has not," said I, in some alarm, "for Dr. Thorndyke is
extremely anxious, for some reason, to examine it."

"Well, she will be down in a few minutes, and then we shall know. I told
her you were here. Have you any idea what Dr. Thorndyke's reason is for
wanting to see it?"

"None whatever," I replied. "Dr. Thorndyke is as close as an oyster. He
treats me as he treats every one else--he listens attentively, observes
closely, and says nothing."

"It doesn't sound very agreeable," mused Miss Gibson; "and yet he seemed
very nice and sympathetic."

"He _is_ very nice and sympathetic," I retorted with some emphasis, "but
he doesn't make himself agreeable by divulging his clients' secrets."

"I sup