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 already gone home. Which added a further inexplicable mystery. Why should the person or persons who brought Mrs. Barham run away in this emergency?

Why should Mrs. Barham have come at all, save as a happy guest in quest of pleasure? Could she have been trapped there?

No; for she came from her own home in her own car. Moreover, she wore a handsome and expensive costume, quite evidently in view of the masquerade festivity.

And, though no one could tell the exact time she arrived, several agreed that she had been at the house at least an hour before the tragedy was discovered.

Hutchins instructed his men to get from Miss Vallon a complete list of all the people invited, whether they had come or not.

Then he said, “Next, I suppose, we must notify Mr. Barham. How shall we best do it, Dickson?”

“Telephone, of course. Is Mr. Barham at home, Louis?”

“I don’t know, sir. I am only chauffeur of Madame’s car.”

“Who are in the family?”

“Only Mr. and Mrs. Barham, and Mrs. Selden, the mother of Madame.”

“What’s the number?”

Louis told, and then Dickson said, “You do it, Hutchins. Be as decent as you can. You’ve more natural tact than I have.”

“Is there any other telephone?” Hutchins asked, looking at the gaping crowd, in their carnival dress.

“Yes,” Post told him, “in Mr. Locke’s bedroom. I’ll show you.”

They went to the bedroom and Post stood by, while Hutchins called the Barham house.