He felt the glances of the three men fixed intently on him. “Well, you’ve certainly wasted no time,” declared Llewellyn, “though how exactly you’ve been to work, I can’t guess.” “I sha’n’t ask you to,” laughed Anthony. “It might be trying you too highly, and I mustn’t do that.” Peter Daventry began to wish that he hadn’t slept so soundly—Mr. Bathurst’s methods were beginning to fascinate him. Breakfast over, he came across and joined Anthony. The latter went up and spoke quietly to Charles Stewart. “By all means,” was Stewart’s reply, “I’ll let you know directly I want you.” “Come and have a breath of air, Daventry,” said Anthony. “It’s a perfectly wonderful morning.” They strolled out into the garden; Anthony took a cigarette and handed his case to his companion. “I want a few minutes’ conversation with this boot-boy, Patrick O’Connor—I have a fancy that it may prove to be somewhat enlightening—and don’t forget, Daventry, anything we may hear, either now or later on, we’ll keep to ourselves, unless we decide otherwise.” Peter saluted with mock gravity. “I’ll be the soul of tacit discretion,” he exclaimed. “Have you really stumbled across a clue already?” Bathurst’s face relaxed into a smile. “Clues are tumbling over each other—I’ve really had the luck of the old gentleman himself up to the moment. The ball’s running altogether too kindly—doubtless I shall get a rude awakening soon. Come over on the grass there and I’ll tell you something!” Peter accepted his bidding with alacrity. Anthony carefully chose another cigarette. “I’ll tell you this,” he said, speaking in low tones, “before we go across to find O’Connor. But first—a question! How did you sleep last night? Anything disturb you?” Peter knitted his brows. “No! Nothing! But I was dog-tired and slept like a top—whichever way that may actually be.” Anthony pointed across to the wall of the garden against which could be seen nestling a burden of magnificent nectarines. “Be interested—apparently——in something that I’m showing you—I don’t want anybody in the house to think I’m discussing the case with you—for all I know we are being watched.” Peter grimaced, but began to play his part as per instructions. “The situation is becoming decidedly interesting,” he muttered. “Why do you ask me about how I slept?”