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Rh to mistrust a logical deduction. Now let’s go back to the house. And, Thomas,” he added to our guide, “take us back by the way that will bring us opposite the room occupied by Mr. Tremaine.”

“All right, sir,” said Thomas. “His room was right next to Mr. Drysdale’s in th’ east wing—there it is now, sir-th’ third and fourth windows from th’ end.”

“And the fifth and sixth windows belong to Mr. Drysdale’s room?”

“Yes, sir.”

A sort of balcony ran along the entire wing just beneath the windows, half-covered with creeping vines, which in summer, no doubt, completely draped it Godfrey examined it with shining eyes. Then he walked straight to the end of the building.

“Now, Lester,” he said, “I’m going to make a prediction. I predict that we’ll find the wall at the cornet freshly scratched in more than one place. Ah, now, see there.”

The marks were plain enough and the cluster of heavy vines which ran up here against the house also showed signs of abrasion.

“What would you say those marks meant, Lester?” Godfrey asked.

“I should say,” I answered, readily enough, “that someone had recently climbed up to the balcony or down from it.”

“Both ways, Lester; both up and down! Oh, this is much simpler than I’d expected! Now take us up to the rooms, Thomas.”

But in the vestibule he paused.