"We'll go and find him," said Quarles. "I'm staying in Riversmouth to-night; no, not with you. I don't want to be identified with the case in any way. When is the inquest?" "The day after to-morrow." "Then to-morrow afternoon you might show me these coves." "Certainly." "Now for this boy." The wind was blowing half a gale as we went through the town. "It has been blowing like this ever since the night the doctor disappeared, hasn't it?" asked Quarles. "Worse than this part of the time. What's the theory, professor?" "I'm wondering whether there is not some way of clearing up the accident or suicide question." We found the lad at his home, and Quarles listened attentively to his graphic description of seeing the water playing with the corpse as it lay caught on the rocks. "Had you gone that way on purpose to see if it had come ashore?" asked Quarles. "I had and I hadn't. You don't know old Clay, I suppose. He's a fisherman who thinks he knows everything, and he said it was impossible for a body to be washed up on that side of the east cliff." "And you knew better?" "It wasn't that. There were several people standing round at the time, and they laughed at old Clay for being so positive. He was wrong, you see." "Evidently. Do you remember who was there at the time?" "I didn't notice. I was listening to what Clay was saying. I don't suppose he'll talk so much after this." Quarles made no comment on what the lad had said as we walked to the end of the street together, and we parted after arranging our visit to the coves on the following afternoon. Next day about noon I walked up to see Mrs. Smith. The assistant, Evans, came to me, bringing me her apologies. Unless it were anything of the gravest importance, would I mind coming again? "The fact is, she has been upset this morning," Evans went on. "A gentleman unexpectedly turned up to see the doctor about a new patient coming here. He had not heard of the doctor's tragic death, and Mrs. Smith had to explain." "Very trying for her," I said. "And, to make it worse, the man was rather stupid," said Evans. "He didn't seem to understand the position, nor why the doctor's death should prevent arrangements being made. He appeared to have got it into his head that we were unwilling to let him see how the house was conducted. I was called in to the rescue, and I took him over the house. If the weak-minded patient is a relative, I should think the disease is hereditary." "Why?" "He could not understand any explanation," said Evans. "He even selected a bedroom which happened to be mine, and would go into details why it was exactly the room he desired. Of course, the house is to be given up. I believe the relations of the three patients we have already have been written to." "I wanted to ask Mrs. Smith if the doctor's papers throw any light upon his death."