The Herapath Property

s and th

e time he had reached the road outside, the two faint spots of colour which had flushed his cheeks when Barthorpe turned him away had vanished, and he was calm and collected enough when, seeing a disengaged taxi-cab passin

egions. No one was aware that Mr. Tertius had returned, for he let himself into the house with his own latch-key, and went straight into Herapath's study. There, if possible, everything was still quieter-the gloom of the dull November morning seemed to be doubly accentuated in the nooks and corners; there w

ar the desk. With a light, delicate touch he picked up the glass which had been used and held it up to the light. He put it down again presently, went quietly out of the study to the dining-room across the hall, and returned at once with another glass precisely similar in make and pattern to the one which he had placed aside. Into that clear glass he poured some

refully as he went downstairs and into the square. At the corner of Orchard Street he got another taxi-cab and bade the driver go to Endsleigh Gard

. Tertius was presently confronted by a trim parlourmaid, whos

?" asked Mr. Tertius. "And

ion to being thickly covered with green felt, was set in flanges of rubber-these precautions being taken, of course, to ensure silence in the apartment within. An electric bell was set in the door; a moment or t

could gather in cracks and crevices; the floor, too, was of smooth cement; there was no spot in which a speck of dust could settle in improper peace. A series of benches ran round the room, and gave harbourings to a collection of scientific instruments of strange appearance and shape; two large tables, one at either end of the room, were similarly equipped. And at a desk placed between them, and just the

ig man, in a deep, rich voice. "W

on the adjacent bench, and at last seeing one,

thankful to have got these things here in-I devoutly trust!-safety. Specimens? Well, not exactly; though, to be sure, they may be

hair, picked up a briar pipe which lay on his desk, puffed a great cloud

he asked laconicall

bite. The fact is," he went on, gingerly open

d and shoulders over the little bag and peere

glass tumbler! And-is it a s

he bag, and Mr. Tertius hastily seized t

be in the most, quite the most, delicate fashion. Of course, I know you have a fairy-like gentleness of touch-but

nted to a cigar box which stood on a corner of

?" he continued, going back to his chair and dropping heavily

na before he replied. Then he too dropped into a

he most astounding crimes of our day may not lie in that innocent-looking bag-or, rather, in its present contents. Fact! But I'll te

"Herapath? Murder-eh? Now then, slow

is-point by point, from last night until-until the present moment. That is-so far

discovery and subsequent proceedings, to all of which Professor Cox-Raythwaite listened in p

should hear him, "Now, my dear sir, I wish you to see for yourself. First of all, the glass. I will take it out myself-I know exac

sguised interest, took off his spectacles, picked up a re

ainly see distinct thumb and finger-marks round the

ly polished glass. "There! I place this slide here and upon it I deposit this sandwich. Now, my dear Co

his head. He clapped Mr.

-no need for care there. The thing's as

said Mr. Terti

e Professor. "Needs no great amount of care or perception to

us. "The most particular care. That's why I came to you. No

ll put it in such safety that it will still be a fresh thing if it

d shallow, the other deep and square, which on being set down before Mr. Tertius proved to be glass bo

air is in them-to the most infinitesimal remnant of it. Then I shall seal those orifices-and there you are. Whoever wants to see that sandwich or that glass will find both a year hence-ten years hence-a century hence!-in precisely the same condition in which we no

-I think not yet, in either case. I think one had better awai

acularly, "are good at finding the obvious. Whet

All the same, I think we will see what is put before the coro

medical evidence is called ought to show without reas

ertius gravely. "If th

about that sandwich will be vastly simplified," replied the Profess

Tertius with a significant smile, which was a

and quitting the house, walked slowly back to Portman Square. As he turned out of Oxford S

of C