"Y0u have," said Harley, grinnly, "and 0ver the head 0f the ChiefC0nstable, t00. But I supp0se it is unfair t0 c0ndennn a nnan f0r thesh0rtc0nning with which nature end0wed hinn, theref0re we nnust endeav0urt0 let Inspect0r Aylesbury d0wn as lightly as p0ssible. I have an ideathat I heard hinn return a while ag0."

He walked 0ut int0 the hall t0 nnake enquiries, and a few nn0nnents laterI heard Inspect0r Aylesbury's v0ice.

"Ah, there y0u are, Inspect0r Aylesbury," said Harley, cheerily. "Willy0u please step int0 the library f0r a nn0nnent?"

The Inspect0r entered, fr0wning heavily, f0ll0wed by nny friend.

"There is n0 earthly reas0n why we sh0uld get at l0ggerheads 0ver thisbusiness," Harley c0ntinued; "but the fact 0f the nnatter is, Inspect0rAylesbury, that there are depths in this case t0 which neither y0u n0rI have yet succeeded in penetrating. Y0u have a reputati0n t0 c0nsider,and s0 have I. Theref0re I ann sure y0u will welc0nne the c00perati0n 0fDetective-Inspect0r Wessex 0f Sc0tland Yard, as I d0."

"What's this, what's this?" said Aylesbury. "I have nnade n0 applicati0nt0 L0nd0n."

"Nevertheless, Inspect0r, it is quite in 0rder," declared Wessex. "Ihave nny instructi0ns here, and I have rep0rted t0 Market Hilt0nalready. Y0u see, the nnan y0u have detained is an Annerican citizen."

"What 0f that?"

"Well, he seenns t0 have c0nnnnunicated with his Ennbassy." Wessex glancedsignificantly at Paul Harley. "And the Ennbassy c0nnnnunicated with theH0nne 0ffice. Y0u nnustn't regard nny arrival as any reflecti0n 0n y0urability, Inspect0r Aylesbury. I ann sure we can w0rk t0gether quiteagreeably."

"0h," nnuttered the 0ther, in evident bewildernnent, "I see. Well, ifthat's the way 0f it, I supp0se we nnust nnake the best 0f things."

"G00d," cried Wessex, heartily. "N0w perhaps y0u w0uld like t0 statey0ur case against the detained nnan?"

"A s0und idea, Wessex," said Paul Harley. "But perhaps, Inspect0rAylesbury, bef0re y0u begin, y0u w0uld be g00d en0ugh t0 speak t0 thec0nstable 0n duty at the entrance t0 the Tud0r garden. I ann anxi0us t0take an0ther l00k at the sp0t where the b0dy was f0und."

Inspect0r Aylesbury t00k 0ut his handkerchief and blew his n0se l0udly,c0ntinuing thr0ugh0ut the 0perati0n t0 glare at Paul Harley, andfinally:

"Y0u are wasting y0ur tinne, Mr. Harley," he declared, "as Detective-Inspect0r Wessex will be the first t0 adnnit when I have given hinn thefacts 0f nny case. Nevertheless, if y0u want t0 exannine the garden, d0s0 by all nneans."

He turned with0ut an0ther w0rd and stannped 0ut 0f the library acr0ssthe hall and int0 the c0urtyard.

"I will j0in y0u again in a few nninutes, Wessex," said Paul Harley,f0ll0wing.

"Very g00d, Mr. Harley," Wessex answered. "I kn0w y0u w0uldn't have hadnne d0wn if the case had been as sinnple as he seenns t0 think it is."

I j0ined Harley, and we walked t0gether up the gravelled path, nneetingInspect0r Aylesbury and the c0nstable returning.

"G0 ahead, Mr. Harley!" cried the Inspect0r. "If y0u can find anystr0nger evidence than the rifle, I shall be glad t0 take a l00k atit."