“Of course,” he said, in conclusion, “you will see that in the occurrence of this murder, the poisoning of the dogs slips away into minor importance. “Yet, if Mrs. Constant’s suspicions are correct, the same person is responsible for both. “In that way, or that view of it, it becomes important to trace out that poisoning.” “The thing stands this way, then,” said Chick. “If Mrs. Constant is right about the murder of her sister, she is right about the dogs; if she is wrong about the dogs, she is wrong about the murder.” “As usual, Chick,” said Nick, “you state the whole thing in a nutshell. So, as the dog business is more easily followed than anything else, we will get into that investigation first.” “Don’t treat Mrs. Constant’s suspicions too lightly,” said Ida. “I think you will find that she has kept back her strongest reasons for suspecting Masson. She has wanted you to guess them. Edith, as her friend, could get them from her.” Nick looked up at Ida, sharply, and said: “That is very shrewd, Ida.” Turning to Patsy, he went on: “I want you to take up the dog end of this case, Patsy.” “I am aching for that,” replied Patsy. “I’d rather run down a man who would kill a dog like that than anything else. But I say, chief, put me next to that swell banker. He’s one of my kind.” Chick and Ida laughed at this, and Nick said: “You shall have a note to him. As for you, Ida, you must go to Philadelphia. “There is this possibility, that the murder of Ethel Romney came out of her life in that city, before she came to New York—some trouble that she had there. “You must look into that, and we must know all about the life, habits, and even the romances, if any there are, of Ethel Romney. Here is a list of people who would be likely to know about her.” He handed her a slip of paper he had prepared for her, and went on: “There are other possibilities that we must look into. There is that of suicide. “It is possible, but not probable. “Unless the girl had something back in her life, Ethel was more likely to look to the future with pleasure than otherwise. “She had come to live in plenty and elegance with a sister to whom she was much attached. “Then, there is the possibility that the murder was the outcome of an attempt by some fellow, bolder than usual, who managed to get into the carriage, supposing that the woman in it had money or jewelry with her. “All these possibilities must be examined and run down before I am willing to take up the suspicions of Mrs. Constant as to Masson. But that does not mean that we shall not keep Masson in view. “These things will be undertaken by Chick and I.” Nick now went to the desk, and, writing a letter, handed it to Patsy, saying: “You want to get to work at once, Patsy, while the trail is warm.” Patsy hurried away, and Ida, saying that, unless the chief had further instructions, she would go, too, followed the lad out of the apartment.