"I telephoned immediately to Lady Carstairs--I spoke to her over the wire myself, telling her what the Largo police reported." "What time would that be ?" asked Mr.Lindsey, sharply.
"Half-past eleven," replied Murray.
"Then, according to what you tell me, she left Hathercleugh soon after you telephoned to her ?" said Mr.Lindsey.
"According to what the butler told us this morning," answered Murray, "Lady Carstairs went out on her bicycle at exactly noon yesterday--and she's never been seen or heard of since." "She left no message at the house ?" asked Mr.Lindsey.
"None! And," added the superintendent, significantly, "she didn't mention to the butler that I'd just telephoned to her.

It's a queer business, this, I'm thinking, Mr.Lindsey.

But--what's your own news ?--and what's Moneylaws got to tell about Sir Gilbert ?" Mr.Lindsey took no notice of the last question.

He sat in silence for a while, evidently thinking.

And in the end he pointed to some telegram forms that lay on the superintendent's desk.
"There's one thing must be done at once, Murray," he said; "and I'll take the responsibility of doing it myself.