"'An incident which may eventually throw some light on the mystery interrupted the Coroner's summing up and caused something of a sensation. This was the appearance of an individual, evidently labouring under strong excitement, who, having thrust his way past the police, advanced to the Coroner's table and demanded to have sight of the body. The man's gestures were wild, and on being asked his name he answered incoherently. His manner seriously affected one of the jury, who swooned and had to be removed from Court. "'While restoratives were being applied at the 'Plume and Feathers' Inn (adjacent to the building in which the inquest was held), the Coroner held consultation with Police and Foreman of the Jury, and eventually adjourned for a second inspection of the body, the stranger accompanying them. From this inspection, as from the first, representatives of the Press were excluded. "'Returning to Court at the expiration of forty minutes--by which time the absent juror had recovered sufficiently to take his seat--the Coroner directed an open verdict to be entered and the inquiry closed. "'The intrusive visitor did not reappear. We understand that he was found to be suffering from acute mental derangement and is at present under medical treatment as well as under supervision of the police, who are closely watching the case. They preserve great reticence on the whole subject and very rightly so in these days, considering the number of enemy plotters in our midst, and that the neighbourhood of 'C--' in particular is known to be infested with their activities.'" "Is that all?" asked Polkinghorne. "That's all; and about enough, I should say, for this Penny Reading." "When did it happen?" "Can't tell. The top of the sheet's torn off." Barham pushed the paper across. "By the look, it's a bit of an old _Daily Chronicle_. I found it wrapping one of my old riding boots, that I haven't worn since I took to a sedentary life. Higgs must have picked it up at our last move--" "Do you want the date?" put in Otway. "If so, it was in January last--January the 18th, to be exact." "But--" "I mean the date of the inquest. The paper would be next morning's-- Wednesday the 19th," Otway went on in a curious level voice, as though spelling the information for them out of the lamplight on the table. Barham stared. "But--" he began again--"but _how_, sir?" Polkinghorne, who also had stared for a moment, broke in with a laugh. "The C.O. is pulling your leg, Sammy. He tore off the top of your paper--it was lying around all this morning--noted the date and thought he might safely make a pipe-spill."