He sat there for hours. Smith entered, turned on the lights and suggested tea, but received an impatient dismissal. After another long interval Smith appeared again, to announce that Mr. White had called. "Did you not say I was out?" said Claude, his hollow tones and haggard air startling his faithful servitor considerably. "Yes, sir--oh yes, sir. But that's no use with Mr. White. 'E said as 'ow 'e were sure you were in." "Ask him to oblige me by coming again--to-morrow. I am very ill. I really cannot see him." Smith left the room only to return and say: "Mr. White says, sir, 'is business is of the _hutmost_ himportance. 'E can't leave it; and 'e says you will be very sorry afterwards if you don't see 'im now." "Oh, so be it," cried Bruce, turning to a spirit-stand to seek sustenance in a stiff glass of brandy. "Send him in." Quite awed by circumstances, Smith admitted the detective and closed the door upon the two men, who stood looking at each other without a word of greeting or explanation. CHAPTER XXVII MR. WHITE'S METHOD The policeman spoke first. "Has Jane Harding been here, then?" he said. His words conveyed no meaning to his hearer. They were so incongruous, so ridiculously unreasoning, that Bruce laughed hysterically. "You must have seen her," cried the detective excitedly. "I know you have learned the truth, and in no other way that I can imagine could it have reached you." "Learnt what truth?" "That Sir Charles Dyke himself is at the bottom of all this business." "Indeed. How have you blundered upon that solution?" "Mr. Bruce, this time I am right, and you know it. It was Sir Charles Dyke who killed his wife. Nobody else had anything else to do with it, so far as I can guess. But if you haven't seen Jane Harding, I wonder how you found out." "You are speaking in riddles. Pray explain yourself." "If Sir Charles Dyke had not been out of town, the riddle would have been answered by this time in the easiest way, as I should have locked him up." "Excellent. You remain faithful to tradition." "Mr. Bruce, please don't try to humbug me, for the sake of your friend. I am quite in earnest. I have come to you for advice. Sir Charles Dyke is guilty enough." "And what do you want me to do?" "To help me to adopt the proper course. The whole thing seems so astounding that I can hardly trust my own senses. I spoke hastily just now. I would not have touched Sir Charles before consulting you. I was never in such a mixed-up condition in my life."