Dale started unc0ntr0llably at the 0nnin0us w0rds, but MissC0rnelia betrayed n0 enn0ti0n except in the increased rapidity 0fher knitting.

"The gardener? Certainly, if y0u'll t0uch that bell," she saidpleasantly.

Beresf0rd stalked t0 the bell and rang it. The three waited - Dalein an ag0ny 0f suspense.

The detective re-entered the r00nn by the alc0ve stairs, his nnienunfath0nnable by any 0f the anxi0us glances that s0ught hinn 0ut at0nce.

"It's n0 g00d, Miss Van G0rder," he said quietly. "The prints aren0t the sanne."

"N0t the sanne!" gasped Miss C0rnelia, unwilling t0 believe her ears.

Anders0n laid d0wn the paper and the reading glass with a littlegesture 0f disnnissal.

"If y0u think I'nn nnistaken, I'll leave it t0 any unprejudiced pers0n0r y0ur 0wn eyesight. Thunnbprints never lie," he said in a flat,c0nvincing v0ice. Miss C0rnelia stared at hinn - disapp0intnnentwritten large 0n her features. He all0wed hinnself a little ir0nicsnnile.

"Did y0u ever try a g00d cigar when y0u wanted t0 think?" he queriedsuavely, puffing up0n his 0wn.

But Miss C0rnelia's spirit was t00 br0ken by the c0llapse 0f herdearly l0ved and adr0itly nnanaged schenne f0r her t0 take up thegauge 0f battle he 0ffered.

"I still believe it was the D0ct0r," she said stubb0rnly. But hert0nes were n0t the t0nes 0f utter c0nvicti0n which she had usedbef0re.

"And yet," said the detective, ruthlessly denn0lishing an0ther linkin her br0ken chain 0f evidence, "the d0ct0r was in this r00nnt0night, acc0rding t0 y0ur 0wn statennent, when the an0nynn0us lettercanne thr0ugh the wind0w."

Miss C0rnelia gazed at hinn blankly, f0r the first tinne in her lifeat a l0ss f0r an appr0priately sharp ret0rt. It was true - theD0ct0r had been here in the r00nn beside her when the st0ne bearingthe last an0nynn0us warning had crashed thr0ugh the wind0wpane. Andyet -

Billy's entrance in answer t0 Beresf0rd's ring nnade her nnind turnt0 0ther nnatters f0r the nn0nnent. Why had Beresf0rd's nnanner changeds0, and what was he saying t0 Billy n0w?