"In my opinion the Riddle is a clue to another hiding-place, evidently not connected with the maze of passages; possibly what is known as a Priest's Hole. As you know, Hulme asked Sybil to marry him. I believe the man to be in financial straits; so that we must further assume the Riddle to conceal the whereabouts of a treasure, since the Reynors are far from wealthy." "The _chest_! Lorian! The chest!" I cried. "Quite so. But what immediately preceded its appearance? The loss of the family ring! If I am not greatly in error, Hulme found that ring! And the ring is the key to the riddle! Do you recall the shape of the bezel? Simply _a square peg of gold_! Look at the photograph!" He was excited, for once. "What does it say?" he continued: "'Ye strypped tree!' That means the device of leaves, twigs, and acorns--stripped _from_ a tree--see? Here, at the bottom of the panel, is such a group, and (this is where we have been so blind!) intertwined with the design is the word _CAEG_--Ancient Saxon for _key_! Look! 'Golde toe Greene and kay toe kay'! Amongst the _green_ leaves is a square hole. The _gold_ knob on the ring fits it!" For a moment I was too greatly surprised for speech. Then: "You think Hulme discovered this?" "I do. And I think Sybil's mislaying her ring gave him his big chance. He had got the chest out whilst she was in the library. He must have been inside somewhere looking for it when she passed through the hall. Then, hearing her approach from the library, he was forced to abandon his heavy 'find' and hide in the secret passage which communicates with his room. Directly she ran upstairs he returned for the chest!" I looked him hard in the face. "We don't want a scene, Lorian," I began. "Besides, it's just possible you may be wrong." "I agree," said Lorian. "Come up to his room, now." Passing quietly upstairs, we paused before the door of the Turret Room. A faint light showed under it. Lorian glanced at me--then knocked. "Who's there?" came sharply. "Lorian," answered my friend. "I want a chat with you about the secret passage and the old treasure chest--_before speaking to the Colonel_!" There was a long silence, then: "Just a moment," came hoarsely. "Don't come in until I call." We looked at one another doubtfully. A long minute passed. I could hear a faint sound within. At last came Hulme's voice: "All right. Come in." As Lorian threw the door open, a faint _click_ sounded from somewhere. The Turret Room was empty! "By heaven! he's given us the slip!" cried my friend. We glanced around the room. A candle burnt upon the table. And upon the bed stood an iron-barred chest, with a sheet of notepaper lying on its lid! Lorian pounced upon the note. We read it together.