The inspector had reached this conclusion when there was a knock at his door, and a constable entered and informed him that the coroner had sent a message to the effect that he was waiting for him in Silwood's chambers. Gale called Gilbert, who had been sitting outside wearily and impatiently, and the two men got into a cab and drove to the scene of the discovery of the body. On their way thither Gale put a question. "I am very anxious to get to know the day on which Mr. Silwood left London," said the officer; "do you think you could find that out for me this afternoon?" "I think the office will be closed, but I'll go and see, if you like." "I wish you would. Suppose you go round to New Square while I go on to Mr. Silwood's chambers?" Gilbert agreed, and presently was in the office of Eversleigh, Silwood and Eversleigh, where, to his great surprise, he found Williamson still on the premises, apparently hard at work. "What a day this has been, Mr. Gilbert!" cried Williamson. "I thought I'd wait to see if there was any more news. Your father and Mr. Ernest have just gone home. I'm afraid your father, Mr. Gilbert, is very poorly--not that that is strange, after what has happened." "No, indeed," said Gilbert. "Can you tell me, Mr. Williamson," he went on, "the day on which Mr. Silwood left for his holiday?" "A fortnight ago, exactly, to-day I had a note from him, saying he was off to Italy. I don't know whether he went by the night mail on the evening of the Friday or by the continental express on the Saturday morning; he did not mention which train he was going by." "A fortnight ago to-day? That was July 31st. And Friday was the 30th." "Precisely," said Williamson, with a touch of malice, "and that is the very day--that Friday--on which Mr. Thornton disappeared. It has a strange look, Mr. Gilbert; I can make nothing of it--nothing at all." "You are sure of the date?" asked Gilbert, sharply. "As I said, it was either on the Friday night or on the Saturday morning that Mr. Silwood left." Gilbert, as he went to tell Inspector Gale what he had learned, could not but confess to himself that the matter did wear a very strange look indeed. When he got to Stone Buildings, he saw the inspector, the coroner, an assistant, and two constables. It was Gale who spoke. "The coroner," he remarked, "is having the body taken to the nearest mortuary, Mr. Gilbert, and he will report later. Meanwhile, I have made an examination of these apartments, and I am bound to say that everything in them appears to be in good order. I see no sign of disorder, no indication of a struggle. And I have looked into the bedroom, and there also I can see nothing to take hold of. Mr. Silwood, I should say, prepared in the most leisurely fashion for his trip; not a thing betokens hurry or flurry--this is all satisfactory enough, so far as it goes."