“Mr. Fish is an American. He brought over a letter of introduction from Mr. Lucius Gott—you’ve heard of Lucius Gott?” Superintendent Battle smiled acknowledgment. Who had not heard of Lucius C. Gott, the multi-millionaire? “He was specially anxious to see my first editions. Mr. Gott’s collection is, of course, unequalled, but I’ve got several treasures myself. This Mr. Fish was an enthusiast. Mr. Lomax had suggested that I ask one or two extra people down here this week-end to make things seem more natural, so I took the opportunity of asking Mr. Fish. That finishes the men. As for the ladies, there is only Mrs. Revel—and I expect she brought a maid or something like that. Then there was my daughter, and of course the children and their nurses and governesses and all the servants.” Lord Caterham paused and took a breath. “Thank you,” said the detective. “A mere matter of routine, but necessary as such.” “There is no doubt, I suppose,” asked George ponderously, “that the murderer entered by the window?” Battle paused for a minute before replying slowly. “There were footsteps leading up to the window, and footsteps leading away from it. A car stopped outside the park at 11.40 last night. At twelve o’clock a young man arrived at the _Jolly Cricketers_ in a car, and engaged a room. He put his boots outside to be cleaned—they were very wet and muddy, as though he had been walking through the long grass in the park.” George leant forward eagerly. “Could not the boots be compared with the footprints?” “They were.” “Well?” “They exactly correspond.” “That settles it,” cried George. “We have the murderer. The young man—what is his name, by the way?” “At the inn he gave the name of Anthony Cade.” “This Anthony Cade must be pursued at once, and arrested.” “You won’t need to pursue him,” said Superintendent Battle. “Why?” “Because he’s still there.” “What?” “Curious, isn’t it?” Colonel Melrose eyed him keenly. “What’s in your mind, Battle? Out with it.” “I just say it’s curious, that’s all. Here’s a young man who ought to cut and run, but he doesn’t cut and run. He stays here, and gives us every facility for comparing footmarks.” “What do you think, then?” “I don’t know what to think. And that’s a very disturbing state of mind.” “Do you imagine——” began Colonel Melrose, but broke off as a discreet knock came at the door. George rose and went to it. Tredwell, inwardly suffering from having to knock at doors in this low fashion, stood dignified upon the threshold, and addressed his master. “Excuse me, my lord, but a gentleman wishes to see you on urgent and important business, connected, I understand, with this morning’s tragedy.” “What’s his name?” asked Battle suddenly. “His name, sir, is Mr. Anthony Cade, but he said it wouldn’t convey anything to anybody.” It seemed to convey something to the four men present. They all sat up in varying degrees of astonishment. Lord Caterham began to chuckle.