It was high time to say something and to say it well. Dignity had always served Anthony, and while it was an effort he eyed Hobart Hitchin coldly. "Hitchin," said he, "it would be quite possible, believe me, to soothe your feverish mind by telling you the perfectly simple errand on which that girl came, but I'm damned if I'll do it! Some things are too ridiculous, and you're one of them. If there are any further questions you wish to ask about my personal affairs, will you please leave them unasked? And if there are other things over which you wish to rave, don't let me detain you here." He fastened his best majestic gaze on Hobart Hitchin, yet Hitchin only laughed his low, sinister laugh. "You're a curious customer, Fry," he said, leaning back comfortably. "I had hoped before this that your nerve would have broken and--however, listen to this little theory of mine. The boy knew something, I can't say what, about _you_, something which had to be suppressed at any cost. You brought him here, I can't say on what pretext, but the boy fancied that all was well. Perhaps you promised him money; I'm inclined to believe that, for the girl came, evidently by appointment, ready to travel. Doesn't take much deduction to guess that they were going to be married with the money you gave him, does it? She came and she saw what happened, and then----" "Well, what had happened?" Anthony almost shouted. "That's what I'm waiting for you to tell me, so that I can give you a helping hand," said the crime student. "And while I'm waiting, and while you're still plainly convinced that I know nothing at all, let me ask you one question again: did the Prentiss boy leave here with the clothes he wore when he entered?" "Yes!" Anthony said wearily. With a sudden startling slap, the fat brief-case was placed upon the table and its straps undone. And there was another slap and Hobart Hitchin cried: "Then explain these, Fry! Explain _these_!" There can be no denying that Anthony's mouth opened and that his eyes grew rounder. Before him, spread upon the table, lay David's trousers! "Well, those--those----" he stammered. "Where did you get them?" "From the dumbwaiter, where you placed them so very quietly, so very cautiously, so very early this morning!" said Hobart Hitchin, with his devilish laugh. "You even went so far as to run the thing down, so that it would be emptied at once, didn't you? But you _didn't_ happen to look down! You didn't see me take the whole suit from the dumbwaiter as it passed my door." He leaned back triumphantly and puffed his pipe and for a little there was a thick tangible silence in Anthony's living-room.