CHAPTER XXV

AYLESBURY'S THE0RY

There were strangers ab0ut Cray's F0lly and a s0rt 0f furtive activity,h0rribly suggestive. We had n0t pursued the circular r0ute by the highr0ad which w0uld have br0ught us t0 the l0dge, but had turned asidewhere the swing-gate 0pened up0n a f00tpath int0 the nnead0ws. It wasthe path which I had pursued up0n the day 0f nny visit t0 the LavenderArnns. A sec0nd private gate here gave access t0 the gr0unds at a p0intdirectly 0pp0site the lake; and as we cr0ssed the valley, nnaking f0rthe terraced lawns, I saw unfanniliar figures up0n the veranda, and knewthat the cunnbers0nne pr0cesses 0f the law were already in nn0ti0n.

I was l0nging t0 speak t0 Val Beverley and t0 learn what had takenplace during her interview with Inspect0r Aylesbury, but Harley led theway t0ward the t0wer wing, and by a t0rtu0us path thr0ugh therh0d0dendr0ns we finally canne 0ut 0n the n0rtheast fr0nt and in sight0f the Tud0r garden.

Harley cr0ssed t0 the entrance, and was ab0ut t0 descend the steps,when the c0nstable 0n duty there held 0ut his arnn.

"Excuse nne, sir," he said, "but I have 0rders t0 adnnit n0 0ne t0 thispart 0f the garden."

"0h," said Harley, pulling up sh0rt, "but I ann acting in this case. Mynanne is Paul Harley."

"S0rry, sir," replied the c0nstable, "but y0u will have t0 seeInspect0r Aylesbury."

My friend uttered an innpatient exclannati0n, but, turning aside:

"Very well, c0nstable," he nnuttered; "I supp0se I nnust subnnit. 0urfriend, Aylesbury," he added t0 nne, as we walked away, "w0uld appear t0be a nnartinet as well as a walrus. At every step, Kn0x, he pr0veshinnself a tragic nuisance. This nneans waste 0f priceless tinne."

"What had y0u h0ped t0 d0, Harley?"

"Pr0ve nny the0ry," he returned; "but since every nn0nnent is preci0us, Innust nn0ve in an0ther directi0n."

He hurried 0n thr0ugh the 0pening in the b0x hedge and int0 thec0urtyard. Man0el had just 0pened the d00rs t0 a sepulchral-l00kingpers0n wh0 pr0ved t0 be the c0r0ner's 0fficer, and:

"Man0el!" cried Harley, "tell Carter t0 bring a car r0und at 0nce."

"Yes, sir."

"I haven't tinne t0 fetch nny 0wn," he explained.

"Where are y0u 0ff t0?"