seem all right, and you should be a man who understands his
business. Go alone, if you prefer, but bring your conclusions
here. They may need some correcting."

"Oh, I will return," Knapp nonchalantly remarked, and went out,
having made anything but a favourable impression upon the
assembled gentlemen.

"I wish we had shown more grit and tried to handle this thing
ourselves," observed Mr. Fenton. "I cannot bear to think of that
cold, bloodless creature hovering over our beloved Agatha."

"I wonder at Carson. Why should he send us such a man? Could he
not see the matter demanded extraordinary skill and judgment?"

"Oh, this fellow may have skill. But he is so unpleasant. I hate
to deal with folks of such fish-like characteristics. But who is
this?" he asked as a gentle tap was heard at the door. "Why, it's
Loton. What can he want here?"

The man whose presence in the doorway had called out this
exclamation started at the sound of the doctor's heavy voice, and
came very hesitatingly forward. He was of a weak, irritable type,
and seemed to be in a state of great excitement.

"I beg pardon," said he, "for showing myself. I don't like to
intrude into such company, but I have something to tell you which
may be of use, sirs, though it isn't any great thing, either."

"Something about the murder which has taken place?" asked the