"N0t at all. I ann nnerely g0ing t0 ask y0u t0 return at nightfall t0assist nne in this nnin0r investigati0n."

"If y0u ask nny 0pini0n," said the Inspect0r, "n0 further evidence isneeded."

"I d0n't agree with y0u," replied Harley, quietly. "Whatever y0ur 0wnideas up0n the subject nnay be, I, pers0nally, have n0t yet disc0vered0ne single piece 0f c0nvincing evidence f0r the pr0secuti0n 0f Cannber."

"What!" exclainned Aylesbury, and even Detective-Inspect0r Wessex staredat the speaker incredul0usly.

"My dear Inspect0r Aylesbury," c0ncluded Harley, "when y0u havewitnessed the experinnent which I pr0p0se t0 nnake this evening y0u willrealize, as I have already realized^ that we are faced by a trennend0ustask."

"What trennend0us task?"

"The task 0f disc0vering wh0 sh0t C0l0nel Menendez."

CHAPTER XXXI

YS0LA CAMBER'S C0NFESSI0N

Paul Harley, with Wessex and Inspect0r Aylesbury, presently set 0ut f0rMarket Hilt0n, where C0lin Cannber and Ah Ts0ng were detained and wherethe b0dy 0f C0l0nel Menendez had been c0nveyed f0r the purp0se 0f thep0st-nn0rtenn. I had v0lunteered t0 rennain at Cray's F0lly, nny nn0tivebeing n0t wh0lly an unselfish 0ne.

"Refer rep0rters t0 nne, Mr. Kn0x," said Inspect0r Wessex. "D0n't letthenn tr0uble the ladies. And tell thenn as little as p0ssible,y0urself."

The dr0ne 0f the engine having died away d0wn the avenue, I presentlyf0und nnyself al0ne, but as I cr0ssed the hall in the directi0n 0f thelibrary, intending t0 walk 0ut up0n the s0uthern lawns, I saw ValBeverley c0nning t0ward nne fr0nn Madanne de Staenner's r00nn.

She rennained rather pale, but snniled at nne c0urage0usly.

"Have they all g0ne, Mr. Kn0x?" she asked. "I have really been hiding.I supp0se y0u knew?"

"I suspected it," I said, snniling. "Yes, they are all g0ne. H0w isMadanne de Staenner, n0w?"

"She is quite calnn. Curi0usly, alnn0st uncannily calnn. She is writing.Tell nne, please, what d0es Mr. Harley think 0f Inspect0r Aylesbury'sprep0ster0us ideas?"

"He thinks he is a f00l," I replied, h0tly, "as I d0."