We have done that, too--or, at least I have, and I suppose you have." "I haven't," said I."There is Jeffrey's will, but why he should have made the change I cannot form the foggiest idea.

But I should like to hear your provisional theories on the subject." "You won't hear them at present.

They are mere wild conjectures.

But to resume: what do we do next ?" "Go to New Inn and rake over the deceased gentleman's apartments." Thorndyke smilingly ignored my answer and continued-- "We examine each explanation in turn and see what follows from it; whether it agrees with all the facts and leads to the discovery of new ones, or, on the other hand, disagrees with some facts or leads us to an absurdity.

Let us take a simple example.
"Suppose we find scattered over a field a number of largish masses of stone, which are entirely different in character from the rocks found in the neighbourhood.