"You could have shortened that advertisement considerably," he said, smiling. "I never saw so roundabout a request for information." "What does it' matter?" replied Crate, growing rather red. "I ain't no scholar, Mr. Fanks, and I did the best I could. If, the fish bites, sir, that is all you want." "I hope the fish will bite, Crate," said Fanks, fretfully; "if not, I do not know what I shall do. Never have I been so unlucky as over this case. Everything seems to go wrong with me. But if I can find anyone who saw this negro on the night of the murder we my hear strange things." "About Mrs. Boazoph and Dr. Binjoy?" "About Miss Colmer and Hersham. Though to be sure such information may run me into a blind alley. By the way, did Mr. Garth call to see me in my absence?" "Twice, sir." "The deuce!" muttered Fanks, with a frown. "I wonder why he is so anxious over this case?" "I think I can tell you that, sir." "And I think I can guess what you are about to say," retorted Fanks. "However, let me hear your theory." "Well, I may be wrong," said Crate, modestly, "but it seems to me that this Mr. Garth is anxious to find out that Sir Louis Fellenger is concerned in the murder of his cousin, because----" "Because he wants to inherit the Fellenger title and property as next heir," finished Fanks, smartly. "Exactly, sir; what do you think of my theory?" "There may be something in it, Crate," replied Fanks, thoughtfully; "of course, Mr. Garth comes into the Fellenger estates on the death of the present baronet. But," he added, emphatically, "we know that this negro actually killed Sir Gregory, so Louis could only be associated with the case as an accessory before the fact. Therefore he could not be hanged, even if the case were proved against him. Where would Mr. Garth be then? In such an event the estates would probably be thrown into Chancery while Sir Louis was undergoing imprisonment, and would not come to Garth for years. Your idea is a good one, Crate, but I do not see how it would benefit our friend." Crate scratched his chin. "I suppose that Mr. Garth is lawyer enough to know all that," he said, grudgingly, "and wouldn't risk his neck for the mere chance of such a thing. He----" "Ah! now you are on another track. Mr. Garth may be anxious to prove the case against Sir Louis, but I do not think he killed Sir Gregory himself." "Oh, I know who you think is guilty, Mr. Fanks. All the same, I do not agree with you; and I should not be surprised if this Garth turned out to be the real criminal." "Garth isn't a negro." "I guess you have your own ideas about that negro, Mr. Fanks." The detective smiled and rose from his seat. "I guess I have, Mr. Crate. You are improving, my friend; and you are beginning to see further than your nose. I should not wonder if I made something of you yet. So you suspect Garth?"