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mature consideration, Constable, that I have determined to ignore that excellent counsel.”

Chan nodded. “Circumstances,” he remarked, “upset cases.”

“Precisely, sir. I have always been a law-abiding man, and what is more, I am eager to see you get to the bottom of this matter without—if I may say so— further delay. Last evening I chanced to be busy in the hall at the moment when you were engaged in interviewing Miss Julie regarding the emerald ring. This may suggest to you that I was eavesdropping, but I can assure you that such duplicity was farthest from my thoughts. I heard the young lady tell you that Miss Fane had given her that ring early in the morning, and that she—Miss Julie, I mean—had held it in her possession from that moment on, until you discovered it in her room.”

“Such was Miss Julie’s story,” Charlie agreed.

“I am at a complete loss to understand it, sir. I don’t know what she meant by her testimony—but I do know this. At about seven last night, Miss Fane called me to her room and gave me the letter which I was to deliver to Mr. Tarneverro immediately on his arrival at the house. As she passed over the missive, I distinctly saw, gleaming on her right hand, the ring in question. I am positive on that point, Constable, and prepared to offer a sworn statement along those lines.”

Chan was silent for a moment. He thought of Julie O'Neill, so young, so innocent-looking. “Thank you very much,” he said at last. “What you say seems of vast importance.”

“I only hope it may not be so important as it