"I want you all three to be here at two o'clock to-morrow punctually," he said, "you and this man Bates and Miss Seymour." He picked up a pencil. "By the way, has Miss Seymour any other Christian name besides Nancy?" Colin shook his head. "Not that I know of." "And her exact age?" "She will be nineteen on the third of February." Marsden jotted down his reply, and then sat frowning thoughtfully at the pad. "I suppose there's no more information you can give me in connection with her--no little fact or detail that you've forgotten to mention?" Colin reflected. "By Jove, yes!" he exclaimed suddenly. "I've never told you that we're going to be married." Allowing for the Inspector's naturally reserved manner, the effect of these few words was extraordinary. He pushed back his chair, stared for a moment half incredulously, and then, slapping his knee, broke into a loud and prolonged chuckle of laughter. Before either of them could speak again there was a tap outside, and an apologetic constable presented himself in the doorway. "Beg pardon, sir," he said, "but the Commissioner is ready to see you." With an abrupt change of manner Marsden rose to his feet. "Thank you, Jackson," he said. "I will be down immediately." Then, as the door closed, he took a step forward, and with another hearty chuckle gripped hold of Colin's hand. "I congratulate you with all my heart, doctor," he said. "Unless I'm a damned fool, you're the luckiest man in England." CHAPTER TEN "More coffee?" suggested Mark. Colin pushed over his cup, and, having taken possession of the last slice of toast, proceeded to scrape out the remainder of the marmalade. "I seem to be eating rather a lot," he observed apologetically. "I suppose it's the result of being in love." Mark laughed and glanced at the clock. "It seems to have affected Nancy in the same way. Anyhow, this is the first time I've ever known her late." "You mustn't be brutal to her," said Colin; "it's all my fault. I took her out to supper after the theatre last night, and we didn't get back to her place until nearly one o'clock. I expect she was a bit sleepy this morning." "Well, I'll try and overlook it for once," replied Mark generously. He produced his pipe, and, after stuffing the bowl with tobacco, tossed the pouch across the table. "What are your plans for this morning?" he inquired. "I've got to find Joe," was the answer. "Marsden wants him at the Yard at two o'clock, so I must go along to the Palace and see if I can get hold of his address." "You had better tell him to come here at half-past twelve," said Mark. "He can have some lunch with us, and then you can all go up together in the car." "That's a bright idea," agreed Colin. "I'm afraid that, in one way and another, I'm becoming a bit of a nuisance, though."