“That’s rather strange!” commented Bruce. “But what was this steel contraption for, do you know? Was it a patent sight or something?” “Jay doesn’t know,” answered the girl. “Would you mind if I spoke to Jay myself?” asked the young man. In reply the girl touched the bell beside the fireplace. Bude answered the summons and was despatched to find Jay. He appeared in due course, a tall, dark, sleek young man wearing a swallow-tail coat and striped trousers. “How are you, Jay?” said Bruce affably. “Very well, thank you, sir,” replied the valet. “Miss Trevert was telling me about this appliance which you say Mr. Parrish had on his automatic. Could you describe it to me?” “Well, sir,” answered the man rather haltingly, “it was a little sort of cup made of steel or gun-metal fitting closely over the barrel ...” “And you don’t know what it was for?” “No, sir!” “Was it a sight, do you think?” “I can’t say, I’m sure, sir!” “You know what a sight looks like, I suppose. Was there a bead on it or anything like it?” “I can’t say, I’m sure, sir. I never gave any particular heed to it. I used to see the automatic lying in the drawer of the wardrobe in Mr. Parrish’s room in a wash-leather case. I noticed this steel appliance, sir, because the case wouldn’t shut over the pistol with it on and the butt used to stick out.” “When did you last notice Mr. Parrish’s automatic?” “It would be Thursday or Friday, sir. I went to that drawer to get Mr. Parrish an old stock to go riding in as some new ones he had bought were stiff and hurt him.” “And this steel cup was on the pistol then?” “Oh, yes, sir!” “And you say it was not on the pistol when Mr. Parrish’s body was found?” “No, sir!” “Are you sure of this?” “Yes, sir. I was one of the first in the room, and I saw the pistol in Mr. Parrish’s hand, and there was no sign of the cup, sir. So I’ve had a good look among his things and I can’t find it anywhere!” Bruce Wright pondered a minute. “Try and think, Jay,” he said, “if you can’t remember anything more about this steel cup, as you call it. Where did Mr. Parrish buy it?” “Can’t say, I’m sure, sir. He had it before ever I took service with him!” Jay put his hand to his forehead for an instant. “Now I come to think of it,” he said, “there was the name of the shop or maker on it, stamped on the steel. ‘Maxim,’ that was the name, now I put my mind back, with a number ...” “Maxim?” echoed Bruce Wright. “Did you say Maxim?” “Yes, sir! That was the name!” replied the valet impassively. “By Jove!” said the boy half to himself. Then he said aloud to Jay: “Did you tell the police about this?” Jay looked somewhat uncomfortable. “No, sir.” “Why not?” Jay looked at Mary Trevert. “Well, sir, I thought perhaps I’d better tell Miss Trevert first. Bude thought so, too. That there Manderton has made so much unpleasantness in the house with his prying ways that I said to myself, sir ...” Bruce Wright looked at Mary.