"A coincidence which I cannot account for," declared Lane, looking the detective squarely in the eye. "It may be that Annette saw the end of my silver handled umbrella which I was carrying, and in the uncertain light mistook it for a weapon of some sort." "Considering Annette's natural disposition to lie," broke in Douglas, "I think it highly probable that she made up the story, and told it to Miss Carew." "And probably promised to keep silent if Miss Carew paid her," suggested Brett scornfully. "It's too bad Miss Carew permitted the maid to blackmail her." "What about the threatening letters to Senator Carew which Mrs. Winthrop thought I sent?" inquired Lane. "Philip Winthrop wrote them." "The miserable scoundrel!" ejaculated Lane. "He was that and more--the Secretary of State and I took him back home in the former's motor, and when we had done grilling him we had cleared up many details in regard to this international intrigue. Through Senator Carew's letter and Winthrop's disclosures the intrigue has been nipped in the bud before more serious results can happen." "Thank God for that!" exclaimed Douglas devoutly. "It seems that Philip Winthrop has been a go-between for a wealthy Colombian, whose name he obstinately withholds, and some person whom the conspirators called 'our mutual friend.' Strange to say, Philip declares he never knew until Carew's letter was read that the mysterious individual was Colonel Dana Thornton. He says he gave all communications for the 'mutual friend' to Annette, and Annette, if you please, made him believe that the spy was--Miss Thornton." "Well, upon my word!" cried Eleanor, her eyes blazing with indignation. "I was a nice cat's-paw for her. Do you know, I believe she, and not my uncle, killed Senator Carew." "I'm sorry,"--Brett hesitated, then went slowly on. "I'm sorry to say there's no doubt but that Colonel Thornton did murder the Senator. I don't want to inflict any more pain than necessary, Miss Thornton, but you will hear the details from others if not from me. I have seen Soto, your Japanese cook, and he swore that Colonel Thornton called at your house on Monday night, just after the Senator's arrival, and Fugi admitted him. On being informed that Senator Carew was with you, your uncle told the butler not to announce him, but that he would wait in the writing room until the Senator left. Soto showed me an umbrella which Fugi had carried to the kitchen to dry for the Colonel. It has your uncle's initials engraved on the handle, and Nicodemus positively identified it as belonging to the Colonel when I showed it to him on my arrival here just now.