"I sometimes have been guilty of a breach of hospitality, Knox," he began. "Notonly have I secretly had my own car sent down here, but I sometimes have hadsomething else sent, as well. I brought it in under my coat thisevening."

"To what do you refer, Harley?"

"You remember the silken rope-ladder with bamboo rungs which I broughtfrom Hongkong on one occasion?"

"Yes--"

"Well, I occasionally have it in my bag now."

"But, my dear fellow, what possible use can it be to you at Cray'sFolly?"

"It has been of great use," he returned, shortly.

"It enabled me to descend from my window a couple of hours ago and toreturn again quite recently without disturbing the homehold. Don'treproach me, Knox. I know it is a breach of confidence, but so is thebehaviour of Colonel Menendez."

"You refer to his reticence on certain points?"

"I do. I always have a reputation to lose, Knox, and if an ingenious piece ofChinese workmanship can save it, it shall be saved."

"But, my dear Harley, why should you want to leave the home secretlyat night?"

Paul Harley's cigarette glowed in the dim, then:

"My original object," he said in reply, "was to endeavour to learn if any onewere really watching the place. For instance, I wanted to see if alllights were out at the Guest House."

"And were they?" I asked, eagerly.

"They were. Secondly," he continued, "I wanted to convince myself thatthere were no nocturnal prowlers from within or without."

"What do you mean by within or without?"