"That's very strange," muttered Douglas. "Very strange. Detective Brett, who is investigating the Carew case, declares, from writing found on a blotter, that the Senator wrote a letter to some unknown person. On one side of the blotter were clearly traced the words: 'Am writing in case I don't see you before ...'--and on the other: 'I have discovered....' Brett thinks Senator Carew was interrupted on two occasions while writing the letter, and laid the blotter on the fresh ink to prevent the person who entered from seeing what he had written." The Secretary followed Douglas' story with the greatest attention. "A likely hypothesis," he acknowledged, slowly settling back in his revolving chair, for he had been leaning forward on his desk the better to catch every word spoken by Douglas in his quiet monotone. "To whom do you think that letter was written?" "To you, undoubtedly, Mr. Secretary. Possibly my information may have given him the clew he needed to verify certain suspicions. You were in the West, he wanted to get the news to you without further delay, and the only thing he could do was to write or wire." "Or telephone," supplemented the Secretary; then, as Douglas' face brightened, he added, "Unfortunately for your theory Senator Carew did none of those things." "You mean----?" "That I have never received a letter, a telegram, or a telephone from him while I was away," announced the Secretary solemnly. "He may still have written a message and have been killed before he could get it off to you." "Has such a letter been found by Brett?" "No, sir; nor any trace of it. So far, he has been unable to find out whether such a letter was seen or posted by any member of the Senator's household. All he has to go on is the blotter." "Why did you not go at once to see Senator Carew when you arrived in Washington?" "Because my cousin, Captain Taylor, who met me at the Union Station, gave me a note from Senator Carew asking me to call on him at nine o'clock Tuesday morning at his residence." "How did the Senator know where a note would reach you?" "He enclosed it in a note to my cousin asking him to see that it was delivered to me at once on my arrival." "Has it occurred to you that Senator Carew's missing letter, which Brett is so anxious to find, may have been addressed to you?" "I never thought of that!" exclaimed Douglas, "I was so thoroughly convinced that he had tried to communicate with you." "I would inquire about your mail if I were you, Mr. Hunter." "I will do so at once," Douglas half rose. "No, no, sit down." The Secretary waited until Douglas had resumed his seat. "Where are you stopping?" "At the Albany." "You have brought me very serious news, Mr. Hunter. So serious that I must insist on some verification of your statements about Japan before you leave me."