"Certainly. But it seems to me that the only one who can put us in the right track is the girl." "True enough. I only hope she will be amenable to reason." Larcher poured himself out a glass of wine and drank it slowly. Then he lighted his pipe and returned to his chair with a new idea in his head. "I wonder why Hilliston told that lie about the scarfpin, Tait?" "Ask me something easier. I cannot say. We'll learn nothing from him. My dear fellow, it is no use asking further questions of your guardian or of your mother. We have found out all from them that we can. Nothing now remains but to see Jenny Paynton." "Quite right. And we go to Thorston to-morrow?" "By the ordinary train. I have written for the dogcart to meet us. By this time next week we may know a great deal--we may know the truth." "That is, if Hilliston doesn't thwart us. He is going down to Eastbourne, remember." "I know. But I intend to get what the Americans call the 'inside running,' by seeing Jenny to-morrow evening. The whole case turns on her explanation of the scarfpin episode. "Well," said Claude, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, "we found Linton through his book, we found Jenny through Linton. Through her we may find Denis Bantry." "And through Denis Bantry we may find the man who killed your father," finished Tait triumphantly. "Well, I know what the name of the man will be." "What will it be?" "Jeringham." Tait shrugged his shoulders. Knowing what he did he was by no means certain on that point. CHAPTER XX. A PRÉCIS OF THE CASE. A MONTH ago had anyone prophesied that I, Spenser Tait, would be engaged in playing the part of an amateur detective, I should have flatly contradicted his prognostication. Yet here I am doing my best to solve the mystery which hangs round the death of my friend's father. I cannot say that I object to the task, for there is something tremendously exciting in this man hunt. My friendship for Claude is the principal factor which induces me to meddle with the business; but a slight flavoring of selfishness is also present. Hitherto we had been fairly successful, and have at least found a clew likely to lead to some certain result. Between Mrs. Bezel, Hilliston, and Linton's book, we have learned a good deal of the case; and all our knowledge points to an interview with Jenny Paynton as the next step to be taken. To-morrow we start for Thorston for this purpose, but before exploring the new field I judge it wise to set down all the facts which have come to our knowledge, and to deduce therefrom, if possible, a logical reason for our future actions. I have my suspicions, but these are vague and intangible. Claude has his suspicions, but these do not coincide with mine. He believes Jeringham to be guilty of the crime. I think Hilliston is likely to prove the assassin. Both of us may be wrong.