"From your cook," returned Stone, simply. "I concluded there was no doubt that Estelle had let the man in and relocked the window afterward. So I deduced a friend of the girl's so dear to her that she would do this for him. I asked the cook, Mrs. Haskins, as to Estelle's admirers and learned that there were two, Bates and Higgins. Mrs. Haskins couldn't say which one Estelle more favored, so I decided to try both. Bates--the cook told me--lived in a boarding-house near here, and Higgins over in New York. So when I asked Estelle a few leading questions I pretended to greater knowledge than I really had. I spoke of a name beginning with either B, H, or S. She fell into the trap and said quickly that she knew no one initialed S. Then I said, 'but beginning with----' and waited; she said no name, but involuntarily her lips form a silent 'B,' and I knew she had Bates in mind. The rest was easy. Bates, the boarding-house and the shingles formed a combination too indicative to be merely coincidence. And so we found him. And I, for one, believe his story. I know the strong superstition that imbues those people concerning a corpse, and the unexpected discovery that he had attacked one was enough to make that man beside himself. Indeed, it's a wonder that he didn't himself make an outcry in his terror and fright." "I have heard of your prowess in these matters," said Haviland, "but I didn't look for such quick work as this. Why, you hadn't even interviewed Estelle when you came to your conclusions about Bates." "No, but remember, I have seen a full account of all the evidence, not only at the inquest, but all that has been gathered by the police and by Mr. Hardy here. Last night I read all this carefully, and it was enlightening on these points that led up to to-day's work. But, now, I don't mind telling you, Mr. Haviland, that a much more difficult and complicated problem faces us, to discover who gave to Miss Carrington the poison that killed her." "Have you any suspicions?" and Gray looked the Detective straight in the eyes. "I have not, as yet," and Fleming Stone returned the steady gaze. "Have you?" Gray Haviland hesitated. Then he said: "I would rather not answer that question, Mr. Stone. If I should have suspicions, and they should be unjust or ill-founded, is it not better to leave them unmentioned, even to you? You are here to discover the criminal. I can not think my suspicions, if I have any, could help you, but they might easily hinder you by wrong suggestion." "Very well, Mr. Haviland, just as you please. But I assume you will tell me frankly anything you may know or learn in the way of direct evidence bearing on the matter?" "That, certainly." But though Haviland's words were a definite promise, his tone and manner seemed hesitant, and a trifle vague. "Am I to have the privilege of working with you, Mr. Stone?" inquired Hardy, his heart beating tumultuously lest he receive a negative answer.