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308 the way under circumstances as discreditable as possible, confident that, in that case, he would himself win Miss Croydon. Which,” he added, in a thoughtful aside, “from what you’ve told me of him, I don’t think it all impossible.”

“Not in the least,” I agreed. “I believe Tremaine could win any woman he really set his heart on.”

“At any rate, he learns of Drysdale’s jealousy and of Miss Croydon’s promise to explain things. He sees that at any hazard he must prevent that explanation. Monday morning, he comes to town with Delroy, and the latter tells him that he intends giving the necklace the salt-water treatment. You’ll remember it was Tremaine who originally proposed this, though he could scarcely at that time have foreseen what would come of it.”

“Mere chance,” I nodded.

“Well, Tremaine takes the early train back to Edgemere and lays his plans. He writes the note”

“But you really haven’t any evidence that he did,” I objected.

For answer Godfrey took from his pocket the blotter he had found in Tremaine’s room.

“I told you that these letters aren’t in Tremaine’s hand,” he said; “but if you’ll compare them with the note, you’ll see how nearly they resemble Miss Croydon’s. Again, they are only capital B’s, G’s, and I’s, which are the only capitals used in the note. That’s pretty good circumstantial evidence. Tremaine, of course, burnt the piece of paper he practiced on; but he didn’t think to burn this blotter. It