Anthony’s eyes never left the Colonel now—he realized that he might be on the point of hearing something that touched the crime very closely. The Colonel’s steely-blue eyes were full of resolution and determination. He had made a decision, and though he found its carrying-out irksome and unpleasant, he was determined to see it through. “You must understand that Stewart and I had become very friendly and were on very intimate terms. We had a number of common interests and we were almost neighbors, four miles isn’t a great distance in the country. I am not sure that, when he invited me to dine with him that evening, he hadn’t a special reason for so doing. If I may be permitted to say so—he valued my opinion on most things and regarded himself as privileged to consider me a friend. During the evening—_after_ dinner—he took me into the library and told me of two matters that were causing him a good deal of uneasiness. The first was rather a surprising one. He told me that there was underhand work going on at Assynton Lodge.” Anthony, with a quick glance at Goodall, cut in. “Did he actually use the word ‘underhand,’ Colonel?” The latter pursed his lips. “Upon reflection, I believe he used the word ‘treacherous,’ but I’m not absolutely certain on the point. Is it very important?” Anthony shook his head. “Tell us more, Colonel——this is most illuminating.” The Colonel appeared gratified at this testimony to his narrative powers. He proceeded. “Mr. Stewart went on to tell me that more than once he had found that his private papers and documents had been interfered with. This fact was worrying him considerably and causing him great concern. It wasn’t so much the espionage that troubled him, but the idea that there was somebody near to him that was acting treacherously. I gathered from his conversation with me that evening that he was determined to take the bull by the horns and endeavor to put a stop to it, if at all possible.” “Did he suspect anybody?” questioned Goodall. “I think not,” replied the Colonel, “at any rate, if he did, he refrained from taking me into his confidence to that extent.” “One point that strikes me as important, Colonel,” interposed Anthony, “did Mr. Stewart give you any idea as to how long this had been going on?” “Only for a matter of months at the most—that at all events is certain—it commenced, he told me, some time after he came to England.” “Had he mentioned it to you before?” Anthony watched the Colonel very keenly as he put this question to him. “Not in actual terms,” came the reply, “he had hinted once or twice very recently that he was disturbed about something, but he never gave me any actual details till that last night of his life.” The Colonel leaned his elbow on the mantelpiece and put his head in his hand. “What was the second matter that Mr. Stewart spoke about?” queried Goodall. The Colonel deliberated for a moment or two before he answered.