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226 take them unless she was pretty certain that they somehow vitally concerned her. It’s evident that Tremaine wouldn’t have taken so much trouble to look for them unless he was mighty anxious to find them. We arrive, then, at our first conclusion, namely, that these clippings necessarily shed some light upon the tragedy recently enacted in this room, and upon the connection of these people with each other.”

“Yes,” I agreed; “unless all these people were mistaken in their estimate of the value of the clippings.”

“That, of course, is possible; but I don’t think it probable. At any rate, let us disregard that suggestion for the moment, and proceed along the other line. What light is it possible for these clippings to shed on the murder of Thompson? Obviously, it must be only by explaining motives. The majority of them seem to be concerned with the adventures of a Frenchman, who goes under various names, but who, I am sure, is one and the same person. He must, then, be either Tremaine or Thompson. But Thompson was evidently not a Frenchman, and Tremaine pretty evidently is, though his contact with the world has served to rub away a good many of the marks. I think we’re pretty safe, therefore, in assuming that the Frenchman of these clippings is Tremaine. As we go on, I believe we’ll find some internal evidence confirming this. You agree with me thus far?”

“Perfectly,” I said, “admitting your first premise that these clippings are really concerned with the case.”

“That, too, I believe, we’ll soon be able to prove