For long enough after Gatton's departure I sat thinking over our conversation. Despite the lateness of the hour at which he had departed, he had had no thought of rest and was setting out in quest of further evidence to point to the author of Sir Marcus's death. The room was laden with tobacco smoke, for our conference had lasted more than two hours, but dusk was very fully established and when presently as I sat there in the dark contemplating the horrible labyrinth into which my steps had drifted, Coates entered. "Ah, Coates," I said, "light up." He switched on the electric light and I saw layers of smoke--clouds drifting from the open window towards the newly opened door. "Shall you be going out again to-night, sir?" asked Coates, standing rigidly to attention as was his custom when addressing me. "I think not, Coates," I replied. "I have done enough for one day, but I should be glad if you would ring up the New Avenue Theater and inquire if Miss Merlin will speak to me. It will be about time now for the performance to have finished." "Very good, sir," said Coates, and proceeded to make the call, whilst I sat listlessly smoking and listening to his voice. Presently: "Miss Merlin did not appear to-night, sir," he announced: "she is indisposed." "I thought as much," I muttered. "I could hardly have expected after such a day of horror and excitement that she would have been capable of appearing to-night. Ring up her flat, Coates," I added. "I should like to speak to her, for I know she is in great trouble." "Indeed, sir," Coates permitted himself to remark. "Is it something to do with the discovery at the docks this morning, sir?" "It is, Coates," I replied. "It is an utterly damnable business." "Indeed, sir," said Coates again, and went to the telephone. Three minutes later I was talking to Isobel. "I find it utterly impossible to tell you what has happened," she declared, "since I saw you last. I feel incapable of thinking, and of course it was quite out of the question for me to go to the theater to-night. But it is not so bad as it might have been." She hesitated, then: "I was only able to give them very short notice unfortunately, but from a selfish point of view, as you know--I was leaving the stage--very shortly--" "Yes," I answered dully, "I know; but have you seen the police?" "I have seen Inspector Gatton," she replied; "but as he told me that he was coming along to you, no doubt you know what took place." "No," I replied; "he did not mention the visit, but you quite recognize the fact, Isobel, that he does not regard you as being in any way concerned in this ghastly affair." "He was awfully kind," she admitted; "in fact I quite changed my opinion regarding the methods of the police authorities after my interview with Inspector Gatton; but although he was so extremely tactful with me, I really cannot forgive him his suspicions, which he was at scarcely any pains to disguise, regarding Eric."