Alec shook his head. “No, I’m afraid I didn’t. Got here too late.” The two looked at each other in silence. “The question is, were we overheard?” Roger said at last. “Good Lord!” Alec exclaimed in dismay. “Do you think we were?” “Impossible to say. I hope to goodness we weren’t, though. It would rather give things away, wouldn’t it?” “Hopelessly!” said Alec with fervour. Roger looked at him curiously. “Why, Alexander, you’re actually getting quite keen on the chase at last!” “It’s—it _is_ rather exciting,” Alec confessed, almost apologetically. “That’s the spirit. Well, come off that bed and let’s get farther away from the house to discuss what’s to be done next. It’s not safe to talk near these windows, evidently. Hullo, you’ve made rather a mess of the bed. Steady! Don’t step on our two particular prints.” Alec glanced ruefully at the bed, which was now embellished with several extra footprints. “I’d better smooth mine out,” he said hastily. “They look a bit suspicious, all round that window, don’t they? Anyone can see that we’ve been mucking about here.” “Yes, do,” Roger said approvingly. “But hurry up, and for goodness’ sake, don’t let anybody see you. That would be worse still.” “And now, Sherlock Sheringham,” said Alec, when they had gained the security of the lawn, “what do you propose? Isn’t it time you disguised yourself, or something? I’m sure the best detectives always do that at about this stage of the proceedings.” “Don’t be ribald, friend Alec,” Roger said reprovingly. “This is a very serious business, and we’re getting along with it very nicely. I think our next move is fairly clear, isn’t it? We embark on the quest of the Mysterious Stranger.” “What mysterious stranger?” “I mean, we make some inquiries round about as to whether any stranger was seen near the place last night. The lodge, the station, the village, and the rest of it.” “That seems a sound scheme.” “Yes, but before we start there’s just one other thing I want to do. You saw how productive the contents of the waste-paper basket were. I should like to have a look at yesterday’s as well.” “Haven’t they been destroyed?” “No, I don’t think so. I made some inquiries while you were otherwise engaged just now, saying that I had thrown away a letter I meant to keep, and as far as I can make out the contents of all the waste-paper baskets are emptied on to an ash pit at the back of the house, where they lie till William sees fit to use them up in a bonfire. I want to have a peep at that ash pit before we start. Not that I really expect to find anything, but you never know.” “How do we get there?” “We’ll go round the front of the house; it’s somewhere on the farther side, I think. We’d better get a move on; we’ve got no time to waste.” “I’m game,” said Alec, quite enthusiastically. They set off. In front of the house the car was standing, the chauffeur lounging negligently at the wheel as if he had been there some time. Roger whistled softly.