"Well, what do you think of this latest development?" I asked. "I am not surprised." "Not surprised!" I exclaimed; "what do you mean?" "Just this: I have been expecting Mrs. Atkins to make an attempt to escape, and have tried to prevent her doing so." "How?" I inquired. "One of my men has been watching her night and day. He is stationed in your house, and I am extremely annoyed that he has allowed her to slip through his fingers, although I must say he has some excuse, for she certainly managed things very neatly." "But Mr. Merritt," I exclaimed, "do you now think Mrs. Atkins guilty?" He smiled enigmatically, but said nothing. "This is a very serious matter for me," I continued. "After what you repeatedly said to me, I thought you scouted the probability of her being in any way implicated in this murder. It was on the strength of this assurance that I induced Atkins to confide in you. Had I known that you were having her shadowed I shouldn't, of course, have advised him to put his case in your hands. I feel dreadfully about this. It is exactly as if I had betrayed the poor fellow. I must warn him at once." I stopped. "Don't do anything rash," he urged, laying a detaining hand on my arm. "But----" "I quite understand your feelings," he continued, looking at me with his kindly blue eyes. "When I first heard the nature of your errand I felt a good deal embarrassed. But it was then too late. What I knew, I knew. I assure you, Doctor, that what I have heard this morning, far from assisting me to solve the Rosemere mystery, will prove a positive hindrance to my doing so. I shall no longer feel at liberty to employ ruse or strategy in my dealings with the lady, and if I find her shall have to treat her with the utmost consideration." "Do you think she murdered the man? Is she the woman whose name you promised to reveal next Tuesday?" "I must decline to answer that question." I glanced at him for a minute in silence. "If I am not mistaken, this flight will precipitate matters," he went on, reflectively. "If the right party hears of it, I expect an explosion will follow." "Don't talk in enigmas, Mr. Merritt; either say what you mean or--" I paused. "Hold your tongue," he concluded, with a smile. "You are quite right. And as I can't say any more at present, I will say nothing. By the way, I hear Mrs. and Miss Derwent and Mr. Norman are in town." "Yes," I curtly assented. "Well, Mr. Merritt," I went on, abruptly changing the subject, "I must leave you now. I am very much upset by your attitude towards Mrs. Atkins. I am not yet sure that I shall not tell her husband. Together, we may perhaps prevent her falling into your hands."