"my god!" exclaimed the manager, "what an appalling business!"

"it is," the inspector agreed shortly.

"she was to have appeared at my theater, too," said the manager ruefully.

"i understand that you found layton sneaking about the house?"

"yes. i first strolled out with mr. delamere. then i left him, and went back to see where the others had got to, and saw layton creeping round the side of the house towards the open drawing-room windows. he heard my footsteps on the path, and bolted."

"to the river?"

"yes. i shouted for mr. copplestone, but there was no answer—so i followed him."

"you are quite certain it was layton?"

[pg 90]"perfectly. i saw his face in the light of the windows, and he was wearing the peculiar kind of slouch hat he had carried when he came into the room."

"apparently no one saw him in the garden except yourself."

"unfortunately not. i met the frenchman, monsieur dupont, a little way from the river—but he had not seen him."

"it was a pity you did not manage to catch him," the inspector remarked.

"confound it, yes! but it was easy to get away in such a garden as this. there wasn't a chance of finding him."

"what did you do, after meeting monsieur dupont?"

"we went on to the river together. i thought i saw a movement among the trees when the lightning lit them up—but there was nothing. i walked round about there for a few minutes, and then went back to warn copplestone."

"leaving monsieur dupont by the river?"

"yes. before i reached the house, i heard mr. delamere shouting the alarm."

[pg 91]"thank you," said the inspector, closing his note-book. "i am afraid i shall have to trouble you to come here at ten o'clock and show me certain places in the garden."

"i am entirely at your disposal," said the manager.

he went out. the inspector sat down at the table, and remained perfectly still for half an hour.