"You wait a bit, my dear sir. Just take up the card." Mr Girtle was in the library with Paul Capel at the time, for the old man had settled down there, treating the younger as if he were a son. He had talked several times of going, but Capel begged him not to leave, and he always stayed. "Well, Preenham, for me?" "He said you and master, sir--the gentleman." "Ah! Linnett. The detective. Will you see him?" "No," said Capel, sternly. "I don't want that affair opened again." "But my dear boy--" "There; very well. Show him up." The detective came in, smiling, but only to encounter a stern look in return. "I've called, gentlemen, about that little matter of the notes and jewels that were lost." "My good fellow," said Capel, angrily, "I will not have that matter taken up again. It is dead." "Well, sir, the fact is, you wouldn't let me take it up; but I did it on my own account." "You did?" said Mr Girtle. "Yes, sir; it took me months piecing together, as I had to do it all from the outside, without seeing the place. I was sent abroad, and have only just come back. Last night, however, I took out my notes and went into it again, and I think I can say I've found the treasure." "Found it, man?" cried Capel, interested in spite of himself. "Where? The place was thoroughly well searched." "Oh! yes, sir, of course." "Then you know who took it?" "Yes, sir; that's it." "Who was it, then?" "Ah! come, sir, that's better." "Yes, yes, go on," cried Capel excitedly, and at that moment it was not the treasure that filled his eyes, but the figure of a sweet, gentle girl, who had watched beside his sick bed. "Well, the fact is, gentlemen, I very soon came to the conclusion that the great treasure had not been stolen." "Why?" said Mr Girtle. "No notes were put in circulation that I could find--old notes--and no valuable jewels sold." "To be sure, yes," said Mr Girtle. "My idea." "That wasn't worth much, gentlemen; but I felt sure from the beginning that the treasure was taken by someone on the premises." "Not that couple, I'll swear," said Mr Girtle. "Nor the servants," said Capel. "There, sir, it's all in a nutshell," said Linnett, hesitating. "Stop!" said Mr Girtle. "What terms do you propose for this information?" "Oh, sir, I wasn't hesitating about that, but because I don't like letting it go now I've found it. It was so much trouble to find the clue, I hardly like parting with it. But here you are, sir, and if I may make terms, I may say I'm only a few pounds out of pocket--ten will cover it--but I should like it if Mr Capel here would give me that Indian knife, that kukri. I've a fancy for saving up that sort of article." "Take the horrible thing and welcome," said Capel impatiently. "Well, gentlemen, I pieced together all that was published, with Doctor Heston's notions, the servants' knowledge, and my own ideas." "Well?" "Well, gentlemen, it was that old Indian servant who took the treasure." "Impossible!"