“It’s not an accident, Inspector,” declared Anthony. “Look at the accumulative force of evidence that we have already managed to collect. Not only is Miss Delaney’s suit-case or trunk missing—and it’s reasonable to suppose that she had something of the kind with her, but also her purse and the motor-car itself, which brought her. The idea is obvious. She was to remain _unrecognised_—and from the murderer’s point of view—the longer that situation remained in force the better. There’s no possible doubt about it.” “You’re very confident, Mr. Bathurst,” smiled Bannister; “but I shouldn’t be overwhelmingly surprised if you’re right.” He looked at his watch. “My next move is ‘Tranfield,’” he announced. “And if you’ve no objection, Inspector,” remarked Anthony, “I’ll accompany you.” Bannister was on the point of replying when he remembered his telephone conversation with Sir Austin Kemble. “Please yourself,” he said a trifle coolly. “I’ll meet you on the platform at Seabourne in an hour’s time.” Anthony waved his assent as Bannister left the hotel—then turned to seek the Crown Prince and Miss Carruthers. They had returned to the Crown Prince’s suite—he was informed. On his way to the apartment he passed Captain Willoughby carrying a suit-case. Chapter X A Room Is Ransacked at “Rest Harrow” “A great deal of my success in cases that have seemed to be at first sight, both intricate and baffling,” remarked Bannister as the train ran through Bletchley, “has been due to my appreciation of the value of care allied to imagination. Apply the maximum of the one to the maximum of the other; and when you get the combined maxima judiciously concentrated upon the problem in hand, they should eventually yield a minimum of trouble.” He removed his horn-rimmed glasses—wiped them studiously—and replaced them. “I’ve worked on those lines ever since I can remember,” he continued, “and I’ve never had any reason to alter my plan of campaign.” Anthony took the offered cigarette from the Inspector’s heavy silver case and lit up. “A thoroughly sound plan, too,” he concurred. Bannister elaborated his point. “Care and finely-controlled imagination should take most men as high as they can reasonably wish to rise—they are two admirable servants. Now in this present case,” proceeded Bannister, “all efforts to trace Miss Delaney’s car have failed—to all intents and purposes it might have been spirited away—it’s not been abandoned on the highway anywhere that we can find. Similarly with her luggage.” He took a cigarette for himself. “Care then having failed to produce me anything—I shall have to give flight to imagination.” “Go on,” said Anthony; “I’m most interested.”