“That, as I said, was about half-past eleven. About half-past one the man you have called Blessington came back with the car. He got out, left it, and went into the house. In about a quarter of an hour he came out again and started his engine. Then the other two men followed, assisting a young lady who appeared to be very weak and ill. She seemed scarcely able to walk, and they almost carried her. Another girl followed, who drew the door of the house after her.” Cheyne started on hearing these words, and looked with an agonized expression at the Inspector. “What were they like, these women?” he breathed through his dry lips. But both men knew the answer. The girl assisted out by Sime and Dangle was undoubtedly Joan Merrill, and the other equally certainly was Susan Dangle. “She was lame—the one you thought ill?” Cheyne persisted. “She had twisted her ankle.” “Perhaps so,” the lady returned, “but I do not think so. She seemed to me to step equally well on each foot. It was more as if she was half asleep or very weak. Her head hung forward and she did not seem to notice where she was going.” Cheyne made a gesture of despair. “Heavens above!” he cried hoarsely. “What have they done to her?” “Drugged her,” French answered succinctly. “But you should take courage from that, Mr. Cheyne. It looks as if they didn’t mean to do her a personal injury. Yes, madam?” Before the invalid could speak Cheyne went on, a puzzled note in his voice. “But look here,” he said slowly, “I don’t understand this. You say that the sick lady was wearing a fur coat?” “Yes, a musquash fur.” “But—” He looked at French in perplexity. “Miss Merrill has a fur coat like that—I’ve seen it. But she wasn’t wearing it last night. Can it be someone else after all?” His voice took on a dawning eagerness. French shook his head. “Don’t build too much on that, Mr. Cheyne. They may have lent her a coat.” “Yes, but why should they? She had a coat last night, a perfectly warm coat of brown cloth. She wouldn’t want another.” “Perhaps her own got muddy when she fell. We’ll have to leave it at that for the moment. We’ll consider it later. Let’s get on now and hear what this lady can tell us. Yes, madam, if you please?” “I am afraid there is not much more to be told. All five got into the car and drove off.” “In which direction?” “Eastwards.” “That is to say, they have just left about half an hour. We were only fifteen minutes behind them, Mr. Cheyne.” He got up to go, but the lady motioned him back to his seat.