"Far from it, Mr. Neale," answered Polke. "That may seem a very, very outrageous thing to say, but, I assure you, one never knows what may not have happened in these cases. However, Mrs. Carswell says he did leave the house, so we must take her word to begin with, and see if we can find out where he went. And as your lordship is here, there's just a question or two I should like to have answered. How many people know that your lordship handed over these valuables to Mr. Horbury?" "So far as I know, no one but the Countess and myself," replied the Earl. "I never mentioned the matter to any one, and I don't think my wife would either. There was no need to mention it." "Well, I don't know," remarked Polke. "One's got to consider all sorts of little things in these affairs, or else I wouldn't ask another question. Does your lordship think it possible the Countess mentioned it to her maid?" The Earl started in his chair. "Ah!" he said. "That may be! She may have done that, of course. I hadn't thought of it." "Is the maid a trustworthy woman?" inquired Polke. "She's been in our service twelve or fourteen years," replied the Earl. "We've always found her quite trustworthy. So much so that I've more than once sent her to my bankers with those very jewels." "You took her with you to the Continent, of course, my lord?" asked Polke. "No, we didn't," replied the Earl. "The fact is--we wanted to have, for once in our lives, a thoroughly unconventional holiday. You know that the Countess and I are both very fond of walking--well, we had always had a great desire to have a walking tour, alone, in the Ardennes district, in early spring. We decided some time ago to have it this year. So when we set off, six weeks ago, we took no servants--and precious little luggage--and we enjoyed it all the more. Therefore, of course, my wife's maid was not with us. She remained at Ellersdeane--with the rest of the servants." Polke seemed to ponder over this last statement. Then he rose from his chair. "Um!" he said. "Well--I'm doing what I can. There's something your lordship might do." "Yes?" asked the Earl. "What, now! It shall be done." "Let some of your men take a look round your neighbourhood," answered the superintendent. "Gamekeepers, now--they're the fellows! Just now we're having some grand moonlight nights. If your men would look about the country between here and Ellersdeane, now? And tell the farmers, and the cottagers, and so forth, and take a particular look round Ellersdeane Hollow. It would be a help." "Excellent idea, Polke," said the Earl. "I'll ride home and set things going at once. And you'll let me know if anything turns up here during the evening or the night." He strode off to the door and Neale followed. But on the threshold Neale was pulled up by the superintendent. "Mr. Neale!" said Polke. Neale turned to see his questioner looking at him with a rather quizzical expression. "What precise message had you for me?" asked Polke.