“I knew that Mr. John couldn’t have done it when I found the dent in the wall showing the box had missed,” she replied; “so I searched for the real weapon. At first I thought—I didn’t know what to think. I knew it was some one in the house; Miss Celia had not let Mr. John out, nor broken the pantry window. By the way, when did you break that?” “About ten minutes to two yesterday, when the other servants were just sitting down to dinner.” “Why?” “I didn’t want Mr. John’s name brought into it; I was hurried the night before and didn’t think of it. In the morning I saw from the inspector’s questions that it was necessary to provide a way in for an ordinary burglar, or else they would find out Mr. John had been here and suspect him—though of course he had nothing whatever to do with it—or get on my tracks, as you have done. But I don’t see how you did, Miss Evelyn.” “I found the statuette,” she said simply. “The statuette?” exclaimed Humblethorne, bewildered. “Yes, I will show it you later. Oh, I know you wiped it, Fairlie,” she added, seeing mystification still on his face. “I have the handkerchief you used both for that and for the window-sill, but the right arm has plenty of stains on it still: then you left a footprint on the wood below and marks of both thumbs on the pedestal when you replaced it.” The old man was silent for several minutes; then he said slowly— “I have made many mistakes; I fear I am a poor criminal. I didn’t think it out, you see. This was how it happened. I had locked up and put the lights out and should have gone to bed only Sir Roger was sitting up in his study with Mr. Castle, and I thought he might want something and ring, and if he did he would be very angry if no one came. So I busied myself with the silver and one thing and another to pass the time; Sir Roger did not used to sit up late. I was in the dining-room putting away the last of the silver when I heard him coming along the passage. The door was ajar and I could hear him quite well. The hall was in darkness, according to orders, as I told you.” He inclined towards Humblethorne, who nodded. “But Sir Roger was very contrary; I heard him swearing at me for not leaving a light on and saying I was too old and he’d give me notice to-morrow. I stepped across and put out the dining-room light for fear he should see it and come in and give me notice then and there—that would have been like him; he was very hasty always—and had hardly done so before I heard him give a sharp exclamation. I wondered what was up, and I pulled the door more open very quietly and looked out.