“Plainly enough, Chick, all of his story and the evidence we found were cut and dried, fixed for him to cover his tracks,” said Nick. “But the rascal overleaped his mount.” “He did, indeed, no mistake.” “Afterward, when I talked with Lenaire, he told me that Toulon had suggested his seeing Vandyke and sending a word of thanks to Clayton. That was covertly done to provide a plausible reason for going to Clayton’s room and getting Vandyke out of the way.” “Undoubtedly.” “I have cautioned Lenaire to keep his mouth shut about it. He fell for the suggestion and gave Toulon the message. Toulon then went up and got rid of Vandyke. Instead of returning to the dining room, however, he stole out-of-doors, where he was fixed up as you found him. In the meantime, made up to resemble Toulon, Dave Margate went up and downed Clayton in the manner described. Take it from me, Chick, that’s how the trick was done.” “And all this, of course, is why you started Patsy on Toulon’s trail.” “Certainly,” said Nick. “Lenaire and all of his assistants returned to New York in a car attached to the special train. I put Patsy wise to my suspicions and sent him along in disguise to shadow the rascal.” “But what do you make of Patsy’s telegram?” Nick took it from his pocket. It had been received at two o’clock that morning, dated from New York at one, and it contained only the following terse sentences: “Toulon has telephoned long distance. Don’t know what. Heard only a man’s name, Beardly. Find him and get next. Am still trailing Toulon. Patsy.” Nick read the message aloud and returned it to his pocket. “It admits of only one interpretation,” he added. “The special arrived in New York about midnight. Toulon, as soon as he was at liberty, evidently telephoned to a man named Beardly. Patsy could overhear only that name, but he knows that Beardly is located in this section, or he would not have wired us to find and investigate him.” “But no such man is known in these parts.” “The name may be an alias, or the man may be living with some one who has a telephone, and whose name Patsy could not get. That of Beardly does not appear in the telephone-exchange book. We must follow up the clew, nevertheless.” “But how----” “The way may be opened,” Nick interrupted, glancing toward the house. “Here is a door opening upon an entry and stairway used by the servants. The stairs are within ten feet of the rooms occupied by Clayton and Clara Langham.” “You think she left by this door?” “I do. She certainly would have been seen if leaving by any other.” “But would she have gone out with Margate, made up as Toulon?” “No, probably not,” said Nick. “But suppose Margate removed his mustache and the wig he must have worn, and thrust them into his pocket. Don’t forget that he is a human counterfeit of Chester Clayton.” “By Jove, I see the point,” said Chick. “You think he fooled Miss Langham into going with him.”