The Templeton Case by Victor L. Whitechurch published by Edward J. Clode, Inc. (New York) CONTENTS I. Reginald Templeton Comes to Marsh Quay II. The Visit to the Opposite Shore III. A Terrible Discovery IV. What Canon Fittleworth Found on the “Firefly” V. Detective-Sergeant Colson Discovers Clues VI. Colson is Baffled VII. The Inquest VIII. Winnie Cotterill Pays a Visit to Frattenbury IX. The Cigar Band X. Harold Grayson is Detained XI. The Canon’s Cigars XII. Fresh Evidence XIII. Isaac Moss Explains XIV. Reginald Templeton’s Letter XV. Detective-Sergeant Colson’s Deductions XVI. Mr. Proctor Upsets Matters XVII. New Theories XVIII. Sir James Perrivale’s Story XIX. Colson Makes an Appointment XX. Colson’s “Imagination” XXI. Final Solution of the Problem CHAPTER I Reginald Templeton Comes to Marsh Quay Tom Gale leaned heavily on the low bulwarks of the little schooner _Lucy_, his arms folded upon the aforesaid bulwarks, his short, black clay pipe in his mouth, and his eyes fixed on the flowing tide glittering in the sunlight of a clear October day. Tom Gale had nothing whatever to do, and was doing it well, lounging and thinking, for the most part, about nothing at all. He combined the offices of crew and cook of the little coasting schooner that was moored at the head of Marsh Quay, waiting for a load of gravel that was delayed. That very morning word had been brought that the contractor would not be able to cart the gravel from the pit, about three miles away, down to Marsh Quay until the following Tuesday. This was Saturday, and the “captain” and “mate” had incontinently taken themselves off to their respective homes at Frattenbury, leaving Tom Gale in charge. Tom Gale did not in the least mind having nothing to do beyond taking care of a vessel that nobody was likely to run away with. There was good beer to be had at the “Mariner’s Arms,” not a hundred yards away, and there was a nice snug bar parlour in the “Mariner’s Arms,” where the evenings might be spent in comfort—for there was no risk in deserting the vessel for an hour or two. Marsh Quay was on one of the little estuaries of the sea that pierced into the southern country from the Channel. Two miles northward, the grey, tapering spire of the Cathedral of Frattenbury stood out against the background of Downs and blue sky. The estuary, which ran up within a mile of Frattenbury to the westward, was at Marsh Quay only about two hundred yards in width, but broadened out southward until a curve hid its course towards the open sea. Marsh Quay, as its name implied, was a little quay jutting out into the estuary from the eastern shore. It was only about fifty yards long, but fairly broad, and contained sheds for storage on either side, except at the end, where it was quite open for a space, which formed room for a small vessel to be moored on either side, as well as one at its extremity.