“Not at all—if you don’t mind excusing me for a few minutes. I’ve a letter to write—in my den. I want to catch the only outgoing post we have.” “Oh, certainly, sir.” “What a stroke of luck!” exclaimed the detective when Proctor had left the room. “I should hardly have believed it; but, of course, he doesn’t know. He’s out of his reckoning—thinks because that band was changed that we don’t suspect anything.” For a minute Colson sat still, smoking his cigar. Then, with a careful look around, he crossed on tiptoe to the cupboard, took his skeleton keys from his pocket, cautiously inserted first one, then another in the keyhole and opened it. Swiftly he ran his eye over the array of boxes. Removing a pile in front, his face beamed as he caught sight of an unfastened box in the back tier. He recognised the label. Quickly he opened it, took out a cigar and looked at the band. “It’s the one!” he murmured. He dropped the cigar in his pocket, closed and locked the cupboard, resumed his seat, and was innocently reading a newspaper he had picked off the table, when Proctor returned, followed by his maid bringing in the tea. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” said the little man genially. “Do you take sugar, Mr. Colson?” They chatted on various topics, and when the detective rose to go, Proctor accompanied him to the door. “Thank you very much, Mr. Proctor.” “Not at all. Only too glad to have been of any use to you. See you to-morrow at the adjourned inquest, I suppose?” “Yes,” said Colson, “we shall meet at the inquest. Good afternoon, sir.” There was nothing further to detain him at Marsh Quay, so he went back to Frattenbury and had a long conversation with the superintendent. “Excellent,” said the latter, ticking off items on his fingers as he spoke. “The same brand of cigar, and the cablegram from Cuba tells us they have sent him these from time to time, and the firm in London corroborate it.” “And he’s been in Switzerland,” added Colson. “And he’s been in Switzerland,” echoed the superintendent. “It’s quite enough to go upon. I’ll make out the deposition, and then—after the inquest.” “After the inquest,” the detective said with a chuckle. “I wonder what sort of a verdict the foreman will persuade the jury to return!” “Wilful murder—against some person unknown,” replied the superintendent sardonically. “But it won’t be a true verdict,” said Colson with decision. CHAPTER XVI Mr. Proctor Upsets Matters The coroner, in re-opening the inquiry, intimated that only one witness of any importance would be heard, and that, with the full consent of the police, who would not, he understood, ask for a further adjournment, the jury would be called upon to record their verdict that afternoon.