"Yes," he said. "But you must be more careful of it, I fear, Miss Valmond. Is it not chipping? Look! Isn't this a piece of it?" He bent and picked a tiny curled sliver of wood from the narrow space between the two down-filled pillows of the bed, holding it out to her upon his palm. But, of a sudden, he smiled, lifted the sliver to his nose, smelt it, and cast it away. "The laugh is on me, I fear--it's only a cedar paring from a lead pencil. And now, please, I'd like to investigate the window." She led him to it at once, explaining where she stood on the eventful night; where she had seen the two figures pass, and where was the wall door through which the dying man had been thrust. "I wish I might see that door clearer," said Cleek; for night had fallen and the moon was not yet up. "Don't happen to have such a thing as a telescope or an opera glass, do you, Miss Valmond?" "My brother has a pair of field glasses downstairs in his room. Shall I run and fetch them for you?" "I'd be very grateful if you would," said Cleek; and a moment after she had gone. "Run down and get my sketching materials out of the locker, will you, Mr. Narkom?" he added. "I want to make a diagram of that house and garden." Then he sat down on the window-seat and for five whole minutes was alone. The field glasses and the sketching materials were brought, the garden door examined and the diagram made, Miss Valmond and Narkom standing by and watching eagerly the whole proceeding. "That's all!" said Cleek, after a time, brushing the charcoal dust from his fingers, and snapping the elastic band over the sketch book. "I know my man at last, Mr. Narkom. Give me until ten o'clock to-morrow night, and then, if Miss Valmond will let us in here again, I'll capture Barrington-Edwards red-handed." "You are sure of him, then?" "As sure as I am that I'm alive. I'll lay a trap that will catch him. I promise you that. So if Miss Valmond will let us in here again----" "Yes, Mr. Headland, I will." "Good! Then let us say at ten o'clock to-morrow night--here in this room; you, I, your brother, Mr. Narkom--all concerned!" said Cleek. "At ten to the tick, remember. Now come along, Mr. Narkom, and let me be about weaving the snare that shall pull this Mr. Barrington-Edwards to the scaffold." Speaking, he bowed to Miss Valmond, and taking Mr. Narkom's arm, passed out and went down the stairs to prepare for the last great act of tragedy. CHAPTER IV At ten to the tick on the following night, he had said, and at ten to the tick he was there--the old red limousine whirling him up to the door in company with Mr. Narkom, there to be admitted by Miss Valmond's brother. "My dear Mr. Headland, I have been on thorns ever since I heard," said he. "I hope and pray it is right, this assistance we are giving. But tell me, please--have you succeeded in your plans? Are you sure they will not fail?"