“If he was noticed, he could indicate that he had called to see M. Sagon.”

“Exactly.  But I very much doubt his gaining the roof.  Perhaps, after all, he was detected; for a few minutes later Burgess saw him leave the house.”

“Humph!” said Pendleton.  Then after some few moments spent in the examination of his paper he threw it down.  “It’s full of all sorts of allusions to monoplanes and such like,” grumbled he.  “As I had to take Edyth home last night, and you went bravely away with the police and Sagon, I find myself, as usual, trailing some distance in the rear.”

Ashton-Kirk regarded the litter of newspapers ruefully: 

“I gave them the heads of the case very plainly,” said he, “but as it was almost the hour for going to press, I suppose they did not get the finer points of my meaning.  Some of them have made a sad mess of it.  However, the evening papers will have a coherent account, I suppose.”

“If you think I am going to wait until the evening papers are issued to get to the bottom of this thing, you’re much mistaken,” declared Pendleton.  “I demand a full and detailed explanation immediately.”

Here a tap came upon the door; Stumph entered and handed Ashton-Kirk a card.

“Let him come up,” said the latter; and, as the man went out, he continued to Pendleton.  “We will both probably be much enlightened now.  It is Allan Morris.”

“Just as you said,” spoke Pendleton.  “It’s really almost like second sight.”

The investigator laughed.

“A small feat of reasoning, nothing more,” said he.  “However, an enthusiast might find some of the elements of second sight in our conversation in this room about a week ago.”

Pendleton looked at him questioningly.

“It was on the morning that you called to announce the coming of Miss Vale.  We were speaking of how it sometimes happened that very innocent things led to most weighty results; and I remarked, if you will remember, that your visit might lead to my connection with a murder that would dwarf some of those which we had spoken of.”

“So you did,” agreed Pendleton.  “That is rather remarkable, Kirk.”

“And further,” smiled the investigator, “I recall that I expressed great admiration for Marryat’s conception of a homicide in the matter of Smallbones and the hag.  The weapon used by Smallbones, it turns out, was identical in character to the one used by Sagon.”

“A bayonet,” cried Pendleton.  “By George!  So it was.”

Just then Stumph announced Allan Morris.

The latter was pale and haggard; his clothes were neglected, and there were some days’ beard upon his chin.  He seemed astonished at sight of Pendleton; however, he only nodded.  Then he said inquiringly to the investigator: 

“You are Mr. Ashton-Kirk?”

“I am.  Will you sit down, Mr. Morris?”

Morris sat down dejectedly.