Sir Oswald complied, sending the pistol flying through the air with a powerful sweep of his arm. Jimmy Thesiger drew near with breathless interest. The Superintendent lumbered off after it like a well-trained retriever. He reappeared with a beaming face. "That's it, sir. Just the same kind of mark. Although, by the way, you sent it a good ten yards farther. But then, you're a very powerfully built man, aren't you, Sir Oswald? Excuse me, I thought I heard someone at the door." The Superintendent's ears must have been very much sharper than anyone else's. Nobody else had heard a sound, but Battle was proved right, for Lady Coote stood outside, a medicine glass in her hand. "Your medicine, Oswald," she said, advancing into the room. "You forgot it after breakfast." "I'm very busy, Maria," said Sir Oswald. "I don't want my medicine." "You would never take it if it wasn't for me," said his wife serenely, advancing upon him. "You're just like a naughty little boy. Drink it up now." And meekly, obediently, the great steel magnate drank it up! Lady Coote smiled sadly and sweetly at everyone. "Am I interrupting you? Are you very busy? Oh, look at those revolvers. Nasty, noisy, murdering things. To think, Oswald, that you might have been shot by the burglar last night." "You must have been alarmed when you found he was missing, Lady Coote," said Battle. "I didn't think of it at first," confessed Lady Coote. "This poor boy here"--she indicated Jimmy--"being shot--and everything so dreadful, but so exciting. It wasn't till Mr. Bateman asked me where Sir Oswald was that I remembered he'd gone out half an hour before for a stroll." "Sleepless, eh, Sir Oswald?" asked Battle. "I am usually an excellent sleeper," said Sir Oswald. "But I must confess that last night I felt unusually restless. I thought the night air would do me good." "You came out through this window, I suppose?" Was it his fancy, or did Sir Oswald hesitate for a moment before replying. "Yes." "In your pumps too," said Lady Coote, "instead of putting thick shoes on. What would you do without me to look after you?" She shook her head sadly. "I think, Maria, if you don't mind leaving us--we have still a lot to discuss." "I know, dear, I'm just going." Lady Coote withdrew, carrying the empty medicine glass as though it were a goblet out of which she had just administered a death potion. "Well, Battle," said George Lomax, "it all seems clear enough. Yes, perfectly clear. The man fires a shot, disabling Mr. Thesiger, flings away the weapon, runs along the terrace and down the gravel path." "Where he ought to have been caught by my men," put in Battle. "Your men, if I may say so, Battle, seem to have been singularly remiss. They didn't see Miss Wade come in. If they could miss her coming in, they could easily miss the thief going out."