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250 door after me. But it so happened that I could not find it for a minute or two. When I did I blew out my candle, and was about to leave the room, which was exactly opposite the study, when I heard the green baize door at the end of the passage open, and a light footstep come along the corridor. Instantly I stood perfectly still, and waited to see who it might be. Closer and closer it came, till I saw in the half dark the pretty figure of one of the parlour maids. On tip toe she crept up to the door, and then stooping down listened at the keyhole. Instantly I was on the alert, every nerve strained to watch her. For nearly five minutes she listened, and then with a glance round tiptoed quietly along the passage again, closing the baize door after her.

When she was safely out of hearing I crossed to the study. Both the inspector and Mr. Wetherell saw something had happened, and were going to question me. "Don't say anything, but tell me as quickly and as nearly as you can what you have been talking about during the last five minutes," I said.

"Why?"

"Don't stop to ask me questions. Believe in the importance of my haste. What was it?"

"I have only been giving Mr. Wetherell my idea of the steps I propose to take," said the inspector.

"Thank you. Now I'm off. Don't sit up for me, Mr. Wetherell; I'm going to follow up a clue that may put us on the scent at last. I don't think you had better come, Mr. Inspector, but I'll meet you here again at six o'clock."

"You can't explain, I suppose," said the latter.

"I'm afraid not," I answered; "but I'll tell you this much I saw one of the female servants listening