The Rayner-Slade Amalgamation

rd had become a victim to doubt, suspicion, and uncertainty. Her colour came and went; her eyes began to show signs of t

don't know if that's where her mother lives, to whom she said she was going. I did know her address-I mean I remembered it for a

od. Is this the maid you brought with you once or twice when yo

he same!" s

oman?" sai

as eight or nine months ago, and I've had her a year. And I ha

ort to remember her ad

do until we

ebrows together in a p

ave it somewhere-most likely in an address-book at m

at your flat?"

her I'm at home or not. But they couldn't get at what you want-all my pa

ushed asid

ne," he said, with an accent of final

uietly eating his

aid has stolen her jewels, she's probably had some hand in the theft from my cousin. We must find her. Now, then, let me come in. I'll look up the train, settle

hook he

track my lost property," she said lugubriously. "You're dead sure

must get off. That French dam

atters, and at two o'clock in the morning the three sped out of Edinburgh for the South, each secretly wondering what was going to come of their journey. Alle

y lad, but it's one we've got to go th

urt Mansions, the hurried rummaging of its owner amongst an extraordinary mass of papers, books, and documents, and the ultimate d

That's where she lived when I engaged her, anyhow-but then her sick mother mayn't live there! The man who m

yway, at once," said Fullaway. "W

n of a penny pocket-book, that he had certainly let a top-floor room to a young Frenchwoman about a year ago, but he had never caught her name properly, and simply had her noted down as Mamselle. She had paid her rent regularly, and had remained in the house five weeks-that was all he knew

the Hull affair. However, there's one thing suggests itself to me. Didn't you say," he went on, turning to Celia, "that yo

lied Celia, almost tearfully. "I always do get things like that into hopeless confusion-I never know what to destroy a

ab, "there's only one thing to be done. We must go to the police

t, or a scientist of distinction, and who maintained an unmoved countenance and a perfect silence while Fullaway unfolded the story. He and Allerdyke had held a brief consultation as they drove from Bloomsbury to Whitehall, and they had decided that as things had now reached a critical stage it would be best to tell the authorities everything. Therefore the American narrated

se, describe your

swered Celia. "

cing a pile of papers from a drawer and turning them

of it. Black eyes-very penetrating. Fresh colour. Not exactly pretty, but attractive-in the real Parisian way-she is a Parisian. Dressed-when

e?" asked t

t-case: a medi

onceal the jewel-box your frie

es-cer

nd turned to his visitors with a business-like l

said. "I mean about this woman. I have no doubt from

elia excitedly. "Yo

at Paddington," answere

she half rose in her seat-only to

glance at the two men, "murdered in the same way as the gentleman you have

te or two. When the sil

erd

in's, and if this murder of the young woman is all of a piece with his, why, then, the sooner we all get to work the better.

d took two rooms for the night. The woman answers the description of your maid-as to the man, I will give you a description of him later. These two, who had for luggage such a medium-sized suit-case as that Miss Lennard has spoken of, partook of some supper and retired. There was nothing noticeable about them-they seemed to be quiet, respectable people-foreigners who spoke English very well. Nothing was heard of them until next morning at eight o'clock, when the man rang his bell and asked for tea to be brought up for both. This was done-he took it in at his door, and was seen to hand a cup in at his sister's door, close by. An hour later he came downstairs and gave instructions that his sister was not to be disturbed-she was tired and wanted to rest, he said, and she would ring when she wanted attendance. He then booked the two rooms again for the succeedi

quiet-looking, middle-aged man who might have been a highly respect

y the body I have told you of. Perhaps you gentlemen will accompany Miss Lennard? Then," he continued, rising,

d men conducted him and his two companions into a sort of annex, one side of which was covered with sheet glass. On the other side of that glass he became aware

isette! Oh, for God'