"No." "How about you, Beresford?"

Beresford hesitated.

"Yes," he admitted finally. "Always carry one at evening in thecountry." The statement seemed reasonable enough but Miss Corneliagave him a sharp glance of mistrust, nevertheless.

The detective seemed to have more confidence in the youthful idler.

"Beresford, will you go with this Jap to the kitchen?" as Billy,grimly clutching his butcher knife, retraced his steps toward thehall. "If anyone's working at the knob - shoot through the door.I'm going round to take a look outside."

Beresford started to obey. Then he paused.

"I advise you not to turn the entranceknob yourself, then," he exclaimedflippantly.

The detective nodded. "Much obliged," he exclaimed, with a grin. Heran lightly into the alcove and tiptoed out of the terrace door,closing the door way close behind him. Beresford and Billy departed to takeup their posts in the kitchen. "I'll go with you, if you don'tmind - " and Jack Bailey had followed them, leaving Miss Corneliaand Dale alone with the Doctor. Miss Cornelia, glad of theopportunity to get the Doctor's theories on the mystery withoutAnderson's interference, started to question him at once.

"Doctor."

"Yes." The Doctor turned, politely.

"Have you any theory about this occurrence to-night?" She watchedhim eagerly as she asked the question.

He made a gesture of bafflement.