"Can I say half a dozen words with you, Miss Patterson, in private?" She led the way to the first room to which they came, which chanced to be the dining-room, she entering first, then Rodney, the inspector last. When he was in he shut the door and stood up against it. "I said, Miss Patterson, in private." The inspector had an eye on Rodney. "We are in private; you can say anything you wish to say before this gentleman. This is Mr. Elmore, to whom I am shortly to be married." "Mr. Elmore?" As the officer echoed the name the two men's glances met. In the inspector's eyes there was an expression of eager curiosity, as if he were taken by surprise; Rodney's quick perceptions told him that while his name, and probably more than his name, was known to the other, for some cause he was the last person he had expected to see; the man was studying him with an interest which he did not attempt to conceal. The young man, on his side, was regarding the inspector as if he found him amusing. "Well, inspector, when you have quite finished staring at Mr. Elmore, perhaps you will tell me what it is you have to say." The girl's candid allusion to the peculiarity which it seemed she had noticed in his manner had the effect of bringing the officer back to a consciousness of what he was doing. "Was I staring? I beg Mr. Elmore's pardon--and yours, Miss Patterson. I was only thinking that, under the circumstances, it is a fortunate accident that Mr. Elmore should be present." "You have omitted to state what are the circumstances to which you allude." "I will proceed to supply that omission at once, Miss Patterson. You will probably think that they are strange ones; and, indeed, they are; but you will, of course, understand that I am only here in pursuance of my duty. I have come in consequence of a letter which I received this morning. I will read it to you." He took an envelope from a fat pocket-book. "It bears no address, and is not dated; but the envelope shows that it was posted last night at Beckenham. "'To Inspector Harlow. "'Sir,--Mr. Graham Patterson did not commit suicide; he was murdered. "'If you can make it convenient to be at Mr. Graham Patterson's late residence, No. 90, Russell Square, to-morrow, Wednesday, afternoon at 3.30, I will be there also, and will point out to you the murderer. "'Your obedient servant, "'Philip Walter Augustus Parker.'" Silence followed when the inspector ceased to read. The officer was engaged in folding the letter and returning it to its envelope; Gladys looked as if she were too startled to give ready utterance to her feelings in words. Rodney was possibly trying to associate someone of whom he had heard with the name of Parker--and failing. His memory did not often play him tricks; he was pretty sure that no one of that name was known to him. The inspector was the first to speak.