"What did the words look like?" said I. "They were carved in block letters on the side of the cornice." As carefully as I could, I stepped to the sundial. As I came up to it, my foot encountered a step.... The column was unusually massive, and the dial must have been two feet square. Lichened and weather-beaten, an inscription upon the cornice was yet quite easy to read. PEREUNT ET IMPUTANTUR And the words were carved in block lettering.... A buzz of excitement succeeded my report. Then Daphne turned quickly and looked searchingly at the house. "I feel as if we were being watched," she said, shuddering. "Let's get back to the car." As Jonah followed the girls into the lane-- "What about bolting the door?" said I. Berry shook his head. "Doesn't matter," he said. "Any way, we've trodden the grass down. Besides, there's nothing to hide." We dragged the door to and hastened after the others. As we climbed into the car, Jonah started the engine. "What are the orders?" he said. "Is Miller the agent? You never said." "Yes," said I. "We'd better go straight to Brooch." Our way lay past the main entrance of The Lawn. As we approached this, Jonah exclaimed and set his foot on the brake. Leaning against the wall was a bicycle, and there was a man's figure busy about the gates. He appeared to be climbing over.... As we came up alongside, he looked at us curiously. Then he went on with his work. A moment later he slid a pair of pliers into his pocket and, wringing the board clear of its fastenings, lowered it to the ground. We were too late. The Lawn was no longer for sale. * * * * * Our chagrin may be imagined more easily than it can be described. We returned to White Ladies in a state of profound depression, alternately cursing Vandy and upbraiding ourselves for not having sent for the book upon the evening of the day of our visit to Broken Ash. Jonah reproached himself bitterly for giving our cousin the benefit of his detective work, although both Daphne and I were positive that Vandy had identified the pedestal from Adele's description before Jonah had volunteered the suggestion that it was a sundial. As for Adele, she was inconsolable. It was after lunch--a miserable meal--when we were seated upon the terrace, that Berry cleared his throat and spoke wisely and to the point.