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to explain his hints about the disappearance of the cipher. "Wait till we get back to your room," was the only answer. And, when the desired haven was reached, "Have another look among those papers, and make certain you didn't pass it over by mistake."

"Good Lord," said Reeves suddenly, "here it is! But I swear it wasn't when I looked before. I say, Carmichael, have you been playing the funny ass with the thing?"

"No," said Carmichael, "I haven't."

"Who has, then?"

"That's the point. I should be glad if I were in a position to enlighten you. You see, I know the maid was blameless as regards that piece of paper. She only does the rooms early in the morning; now, I came in after breakfast, when you'd gone off to Binver, to have another look at the cipher and see if I could make anything of it by inspection. And it was still there."

"And you're sure you didn't take it away with you?"

"Positive. Now, observe this: that document must have been taken away while you and Gordon were both at Binver, while I was over at the station."

"But how did it get back there?"

"It was put back there. And it was put back there, not during luncheon, for I had another look afterwards, but while we were down at the funeral. It follows that none of our party this afternoon has been meddling with your papers⁠—I'm glad to think,