"I've had some information on Levendale and Purvis this very afternoon," said Ayscough. He turned to the other officials. "I hadn't a chance of telling you of it before," he continued. "I was at Levendale's house at three o'clock, making some further enquiries. I got two pieces of news. To start with--that bottle out of which Levendale filled a small phial, which he put in his waistcoat pocket when he went out for the last time--you remember, Mr. Purdie, that his butler told you of that incident--well, that bottle contains chloroform--I took a chemist there to examine it and some other things. That's item one. The other's a bit of information volunteered by Levendale's chauffeur. The morning after Mr. Multenius's death, and after you, Mr. Lauriston, Mr. Rubinstein, and myself called on Levendale, Levendale went off to the City in his car. He ordered the chauffeur to go through Hyde Park, by the Victoria Gate, and to stop by the Powder Magazine. At the Powder Magazine he got out of the car and walked down towards the bridge on the Serpentine. The chauffeur had him in view all the way, and saw him join a tall man, clean-shaven, much browned, who was evidently waiting for him. They remained in conversation, at the entrance to the bridge, some five minutes or so--then the stranger went across the bridge in the direction of Kensington, and Levendale returned to his car. Now, in my opinion, that strange man was this Purvis we've heard of. And that seems to have been the last time any one we've come across saw him. That night, after his visit to his house, and his taking the phial of chloroform away with him, Levendale utterly disappeared, too--and yet sent a wire to his butler, from close by, next morning, saying he would be away for a few days! Why didn't he call with that message himself!" Mr. Killick, who had listened to Ayscough with close attention, laughed, and turned to the officials with a sharp look. "Shall I give you people a bit of my opinion after hearing all this?" he said. "Very well, then--Levendale never did send that wire! It was sent in Levendale's name--to keep things quiet. I believe that Levendale's been trapped--and Purvis with him!" CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR THE ORANGE-YELLOW DIAMOND His various listeners had heard all that the old solicitor had said, with evident interest and attention--now, one of them voiced what all the rest was thinking. "What makes you think that, Mr. Killick?" asked the man from New Scotland Yard. "Why should Levendale and Purvis have been trapped?" Mr. Killick--who was obviously enjoying this return to the arena in which, as some of those present well knew, he had once played a distinguished part, as a solicitor with an extensive police-court practice--twisted round on his questioner with a sly, knowing glance.