“It’s all right. I’m beginning to get an idea of what you mean,” said Roger kindly. “But seriously, Alec, that’s rather an idea of yours. After all, Jefferson isn’t the man to give himself away, is he?” “No,” said Alec earnestly. “You see, what I mean is——” “Hullo!” Roger interrupted rudely. “There’s the inspector going down the drive. And without Jefferson, by all that’s lucky! Let’s cut after him and ask him if he’s brought anything else to the surface.” And without waiting for a reply he set off at a run in the wake of the retreating inspector. The latter, hearing their footsteps on the gravel, turned round to wait for them. “Well, sir?” he said with a smile. “Remembered something else to tell me?” Roger dropped into a walk. “No; but I was wondering whether you had anything to tell me. Found anything more out?” “You’re not connected with the press by any chance, Mr. Sheringham, are you?” the inspector asked suspiciously. “Oh, no; it’s just natural curiosity,” Roger laughed. “Not for publication, and all that.” “I was thinking you might get me into trouble if it came out that I’d been talking more than I ought to, sir. But I haven’t found anything more out in any case.” “Lady Stanworth wasn’t any help?” “Not a bit, sir. She couldn’t throw any light on it at all. I didn’t keep her long. Or any of the others, either, for that matter. There was nothing more to be got out of them, and I’ve got to get back and make out my report.” “Not even found the safe’s combination?” “No,” returned the inspector disappointedly. “I shall have to ring up the makers and get that. I’ve taken a note of the number.” “And who saw him last?” “Mrs. Plant. He stopped her in the hall to ask her if she liked some roses he’d had specially sent up to her room for her, and left her to go into the library. Nobody saw him after that.” “And is the body still in there?” “No, sir. We shan’t want that any more. The constable I brought with me, Rudgeman, is helping them take it upstairs now.” The lodge gates appeared in sight, and Roger halted. “Well, good-bye, Inspector. Shall we see you over here again?” “Yes, sir. I shall have to come over about that safe. I don’t suppose we’ll find anything in it, and it’s a ten-mile bicycle ride for me in this heat; but there you are!” He laughed ruefully and went on his way. Roger and Alec turned and began to pace slowly back to the house. “So Mrs. Plant was the last to see him alive, was she?” observed the former thoughtfully. “That means she’ll be staying over for the inquest. The others will be going this afternoon, I suppose. What’s the time?” Alec glanced at the watch on his wrist. “Just past eleven.” “And all that’s happened in two hours! My hat! Well, come along with me. If the body’s been removed, we may find the coast clear with any luck.” “What are you proposing to do now?” Alec asked with interest. “Look around that library.” “Oh? What’s the idea?”