whoever did the sweeping was too slack to lift up that book and
sweep under it. This footprint, however, is not of great importance,
though it is corroborative of all the other evidence we have that
they came and went by the garden. There's the ladder, and that table
half out of the window. Still, this footprint may turn out useful,
after all. You had better take the measurements of it, inspector.
Here's a foot-rule for you. I make a point of carrying this foot-
rule about with me, your Grace. You would be surprised to learn how
often it has come in useful."

He took a little ivory foot-rule from his waist-coat pocket, and
gave it to the inspector, who fell on his knees and measured the
footprint with the greatest care.

"I must take a careful look at that house they're building. I shall
find a good many traces there, to a dead certainty," said M.
Formery.

The inspector entered the measurements of the footprint in his note-
book. There came the sound of a knocking at the front door.

"I shall find footprints of exactly the same dimensions as this one
at the foot of some heap of plaster beside that house," said M.
Former; with an air of profound conviction, pointing through the
window to the house building beyond the garden.

A policeman opened the door of the drawing-room and saluted.

"If you please, sir, the servants have arrived from Charmerace," he
said.