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Rh suppositions to get Mr. Hereford suspected?"

"You mistake," said Du Brock serenely, "We have no animus against Mr. Hereford, and our interest in the case is only that which we have stated."

McAdams fiercely swept up his newspapers and left them. His first impulse was to report at once to Hereford the two busybodies who were apparently spreading the impression that he must have taken the emerald. His second thought prompted him that it might not be well for himself to have Hereford know that he had engaged freely in conversation about the case with casual strangers.

He finally called Hereford up and made an appointment with him at his rooms for that evening.