A long silence followed and then Sir James shook his head slowly. “No, nothing that I know of,” he replied. He sighed wearily. “But I tell you I don't pretend to understand it at all and I'm sick of going over all the possibilities. It's a dreadful nightmare to me.”
Larose rose briskly to his feet. “Well I think that is all, just now,” he said, “and so, with your permission, I'll start at once to go over the house and then”—he spoke as if he were asking a great favour—“I'll have a chat with your guests as well as with the servants.”
“Just as you like,” said the baronet quietly, and, rising to his feet, he moved across to the door and opened it for them to pass out. “Oh! one moment, Mr. Larose,” he added, and pushing to the door again he stood hesitating with his hand upon the handle. “Yo
