"I took a field-glass to assist my vision. He stealthily climbed out and skirting the bushes made his way swiftly toward the great gates." "This is indeed an important bit of information, Mrs. Frothingham; I dare say you ought to tell it to the police who are here." "Oh, I couldn't! I'm so timid about such things! But,--if you would go with me, Miss Stuart----" "Miss Frayne will go with you," said Pauline, coolly; "You will find a policeman in the hall who will direct you where to find the Inspector." Without another word Pauline bowed in a way to include the lady and the Count also, and went away to her own room. "Stuck-up thing!" exclaimed Mrs. Frothingham, and Anita nodded her golden head in agreement. Inspector Brunt instructed Hardy to hear the story of Mrs. Frothingham, and he devoted his own attention to Count Charlier, of whom he had heard as being a friend of Miss Carrington's. He quizzed the Frenchman rather pointedly as to his friendship with the unfortunate lady and the Count became decidedly ill at ease. "Why do you ask me so much?" he objected; "I was a friend, yes; I may have aspired to a nearer relation, yes? That is no crime?" "Not at all, Count," said Mr. Brunt; "I only want to find out if Miss Carrington's strange reference to something about to happen to her could have had any reference to you." "It might be so; I cannot say. But all that has no bearing on the poor lady's death." "No. At what time did you go away from here, Count Charlier?" "At about midnight." "You went directly home?" "To Mrs. Frothingham's, where I am a house guest, yes." "And you retired?" "Yes." "And remained in your bed till morning?" "But of a certainty, yes! What are you implying? That I had a hand in this affair?" "No, no; be calm, my dear sir. I ask you but one question. Is this your glove?" The Inspector took the glove from his pocket and offered it to the Count. The Frenchman took it, examined it minutely and without haste. "No, sir," he said, returning it; "that is not my property." "Thank you, that is all," and the Inspector put the glove back in his pocket. "There is no doubt as to the main facts," said the Inspector, a half hour later, as, with the members of the family he summed up what had been found out from all known sources. "The assailant was most certainly a burglarious intruder; the weapon, this 'black-jack'; the motive, robbery. Why the robbery was not achieved and what is the meaning of the unexplained circumstances of the whole affair, we do not yet know. They are matters to be investigated, but they cannot greatly affect the principal conditions. You may be thankful, Miss Stuart, that the sad death of your aunt was undoubtedly painless; and also that the thief did not succeed in his attempt to purloin the valuable gems."