He breakfasted at his leisure, then lighting his pipe, he sauntered out into the little town to take what he called “a turn” before settling down to the serious work of the day. Though his conclusions of the previous evening still seemed incontrovertible, he was surprised to find that his sense of disappointment had vanished. At first he thought this was due simply to his night’s rest, then gradually he realised the reason. In his heart of hearts he distrusted these conclusions. In spite of the difficulties involved, he was not satisfied that the Berlyn-Pyke affair should be eliminated from the case. The murderer had shown himself an extremely ingenious man. Could it not be that these seeming impossibilities were really intentionally designed to throw investigating detectives off the scent? French reconsidered the strength of the coincidences otherwise involved. A disappearance at a certain time and place was required to account for the body in the crate. At that very time and place, and there only, a disappearance was known to have occurred. French could not bring himself to dismiss the possibility of a connection between the two facts. He decided that he had not exhausted the possibilities. He must learn more about Berlyn and Pyke. For preliminary enquiries Sergeant Daw seemed the most hopeful source of information, and he lost no time in walking down to the police station and asking his help. “I want to know who everybody is, Sergeant. You know the local people and you might tell me something which would give me the hint I am looking for.” The sergeant did not think this likely, but he was willing to do anything to oblige. “Very good. Then I’ll ask questions. First of all, will you tell me what you can about Mr. Berlyn?” Daw put on his best police-court manner and proceeded to deliver himself. “Mr. Berlyn was junior partner at the works. I understand that some eight or nine years ago he and Colonel Domlio bought up nearly the whole of the stock between them. Mr. Berlyn dealt with the commercial side and attended the office every day as if he was an official, but the colonel looked on the business as a hobby. He acted as a sort of consulting engineer and only went to the works when it pleased him. I believe there are other directors, but in practice they don’t amount to anything.” “Was Mr. Berlyn liked?” “As a matter of fact, sir, he wasn’t altogether popular among the work people. From what I’ve heard, he wanted too much and he wouldn’t make allowances for people making mistakes. It was get on or get out with him, and you know yourself, Mr. French, that if that’s pushed too far it doesn’t always work. But he was straight enough and what he said he stuck to.” “A man like that would make enemies. Do you know of anyone he was on bad terms with?” “No, sir. No one.” “He hadn’t his knife in Mr. Pyke, for instance?” “Not to my knowledge.” “Was Mr. Berlyn married?” “Yes, four or five years ago. Very pleasant lady, Mrs. Berlyn.”