I had Bray's interest now. He leaned heavily toward me, puffing. Greatly

excited, I held before his eyes the issue of the twenty-ninth: "RANGOON: Homburg hat gone forever--caught by a breeze--into the river."

"And finally," said I to the inspector, "the last message of all, in the

issue of the thirtieth of July--on sale in the streets some twelve hours

before Fraser-Freer was murdered. See!"

"RANGOON: To-night at ten. Regent Street. --Y.O.G."

Bray was silent.

"I take it you are aware, Inspector," I said, "that for the past two

years Captain Fraser-Freer was stationed at Rangoon."

Still he said nothing; just looked at me with those foxy little eyes

that I was coming to detest. At last he spoke sharply: "Just how," he demanded, "did you happen to discover those messages? You

were not in this room last night after I left?" He turned angrily to the

constable. "I gave orders--"

"No," I put in; "I was not in this room. I happened to have on file in

my rooms copies of the Mail, and by the merest chance--"

I saw that I had blundered. Undoubtedly my discovery of those messages

was too pat. Once again suspicion looked my way.

"Thank you very much," said Bray. "I'll keep this in mind."

"Have you communicated with my friend at the consulate?" I asked.

"Yes. That's all. Good morning."

So I went.

I had been back in my room some twenty minutes when there came a knock

on the door, and Colonel Hughes entered. He was a genial man, in the

early forties I should say, tanned by some sun not English, and gray at

the temples.

"My dear sir," he said without preamble, "this is a most appalling

business!"

"Decidedly," I answered. "Will you sit down?"

"Thank you." He sat and gazed frankly into my eyes. "Policemen," he

added meaningly, "are a most suspicious tribe--often without reason. I

am sorry you happen to be involved in this affair, for I may say that

I fancy you to be exactly what you seem. May I add that, if you should

ever need a friend, I am at your service?"

I was touched; I thanked him as best I could. His tone was so

sympathetic and before I realized it I was telling him the whole

story--of Archie and his letter; of my falling in love with a garden; of

the startling discovery that the captain had never heard of his cousin;

and of my subsequent unpleasant position. He leaned back in his chair

and closed his eyes.




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