"Yes; but our horses weren't good enough. Where did he take you?" "To the Studio--Sixth Avenue." "Of course!" he cried, slapping his leg. "We might have known. Boys, we'd better go back to Podunk." "Well, at least, Mr. Lester," spoke up another, "you oughtn't to give Godfrey a scoop." "But I didn't give him a scoop. I didn't even know who he was." "Didn't you tell him what was in the note?" "Not a word of it--I told him only one thing." "And what was that?" "That the person who wrote the note didn't know that Rogers was color-blind. You are welcome to that statement, too. You see, I'm treating you all alike." They stood about me, staring down at me, silent with astonishment. "But," I added, "I think Godfrey suspects what was in the note." "Why?" "Well, his theory fits it pretty closely." "His theory! What is his theory, Mr. Lester?" "Oh, come," I laughed. "That's telling. It's a good theory, too." They looked at each other, and, I fancied, gnashed their teeth. "He seems a pretty clever fellow," I added, just to pile up the agony. "I fancy you'll say so, too, when you see his theory in to-morrow's paper." "Clever!" cried Rankin. "Why, he's a very fiend of cleverness when it comes to a case of this kind. We're not in the same class with him. He's a fancy fellow--just the _Record_ kind. You're sure you didn't tell him anything else, Mr. Lester?" he added anxiously. "Godfrey's capable of getting a story out of a fence-post." "No, I'm quite sure I didn't tell him anything else. I only listened to his theory with great interest." "And assented to it?" "I said I thought it plausible." An electric shock seemed to run around the room. "That's it!" cried Rankin. "That's what he wanted. Now, it isn't his theory any more. It's yours. Oh, I can see his headlines! Won't you tell us what it was?" I looked up at him. "Now, frankly, Mr. Rankin," I asked, "if you were in my place, would you tell?" He hesitated for a moment, and then held out his hand. "No," he said, as I took it. "I shouldn't. Shake hands, sir; you're all right. Come on, boys, we might as well be going."