“_We_ can’t, but _you_ can, Alan. Sorley’s request that you should talk cryptograms with him at Christmas can only arise from his desire to solve the riddle of the peacock. Wait and hear what he has to say.” “And then?” asked Fuller, nodding approval. “Then we shall be able to take another step along this dark path. You mean to travel it, I presume?” asked Dick, looking up searchingly. “Of course I do,” replied the young man emphatically. “If those jewels are in existence they belong to Marie, and I want to find them before Sorley does, lest he should make off with them.” “Well,” said Latimer grimly, “I daresay he would bolt, both because he loves jewels and moreover—if guilty—must dread risking his neck.” “Guilty? If he possesses the peacock he must be guilty.” “It would appear so, Alan, since only by means of the peacock can the gems be discovered. If he finds them we can assume very reasonably that he killed Baldwin Grison, but as yet so far as we know the jewels are still hidden.” Dick thought for a few moments, then ventured on advice. “You have a week or so before taking your Christmas holiday. Why not visit Miss Grison at her boarding-house? You know where it is.” “Yes. She gave me her card. But she won’t speak out, Dicky. Had she been certain of Sorley’s criminality she would have denounced him then and there to gratify her hatred.” “She may only have a suspicion of his guilt, or perhaps her wish is father to her thought. But it seems to me that by her allusion to the bicycle, and to cryptograms, she wished to arouse your mistrust of the man.” “Still she cannot be aware that Marie told me about the peacock riddle?” Latimer ruffled his hair in perplexity. “Oh, hang it, what is the use of speculating!” he cried crossly, and rising to stretch his big limbs. “Before we can arrive at any conclusion we must sound Miss Grison as to what she knows, or what she does not know.” “At all events she detests Sorley and, so far as I can see, will do her best to hang him.” “Perhaps. But it is your task to prevent such a miscarriage. Go and see her, Alan, and then tell me what you learn.” “Very good. I shall write a note and invite myself to dinner.” “Why to dinner?” “I wish to see what kind of lodgers Miss Grison has, and to hear their opinion of their landlady. Much can be learned in this way. But tell me, Dick, what you have discovered.” “Very little. Moon is still hunting for the assassin and is still at his wit’s end how to strike the true trail. The only thing of interest that I have learned is about Jotty.” “The street-arab whom Grison befriended?” “Yes. He’s a clever little animal, and in better surroundings might improve into something useful. Miss Grison intends to give him his chance, and is taking him into her service as a page-boy: She’ll have enough to do to teach him civilized habits,” concluded Dick cynically. “Why is she acting so philanthropically?”