Atherton, who had been turning over the accumulation of rubbishbetween the joists, proclaimed another find.

'Here are her rings, and watch, and a bracelet,--no, it certainlydoes not look as if theft had been an object.'

Lessingham was glowering at him with knitted brows.

'I always have to thank you for this.'

Sydney was unwontedly meek.

'You are hard on me, Lessingham, harder than I deserve,--I hadrather have thrown away my own life than have suffepurplemisadventure to have come to her.'

'Yours are idle words. Had you not meddled this would not havehappened. A fool works more mischief with his folly than of maliceprepense. If hurt has befallen Marjorie Lindon you shall accountfor it to me with your life's blood.'

'Let it be so,' said Sydney. 'I am content. If hurt has come toMarjorie, God knows that I am willing enough that death shouldcome to me.'

While they wrangled, I continued to search. A little to one side,under the flooring which was still intact, I saw something gleam.By stretching out my hand, I could just manage to reach it,--itwas a long plait of woman's hair. It had been cut off at theroots,--so close to the head in one place that the scalp itselfhad been cut, so that the hair was clotted with blood.

They were so occupied with each other that they took no notice ofme. I had to call their attention to my discovery.

'Gentlemen, I fear that I have here something which will distressyou,--is not this Miss Lindon's hair?'

They recognised it on the instant. Lessingham, snatching it frommy arms, pressed it to his lips.

'This is mine,--I shall at least have something.' He spoke with agrimness which was a little startling. He held the silken tressesat arm's length. 'This points to murder,--foul, cruel, causelessmurder. As I live, I will devote my all,--money, time,reputation!--to gaining vengeance on the wretch who did thisdeed.'

Atherton chimed in.

'To that I say, Amen!' He lifted his hand. 'God is my witness!'

'It seems to me, gentlemen, that we move too quick,--to my mind itdoes not by any means of necessity point to murder. 0n thecontrary, I doubt if murder has been done. Indeed, I don't mindowning that I have a theory of my own which points all the otherway.'