THE DARK POOL As I went into that house with the rest of them, I had two sudden impressions.

One was that here at my side, in the person of Mr.Gavin Smeaton, was, in all probability, its real owner, the real holder of the ancient title, who was coming to his lawful rights in this strange fashion.

The other was of the contrast between my own coming at that moment and the visit which I had paid there, only a few evenings previously, when Hollins had regarded me with some disfavour and the usurper had been so friendly.

Now Hollins was lying dead in the old ruin, and the other man was a fugitive--and where was he?
Murray had brought us there to do something towards settling that point, and he began his work at once by assembling every Jack and Jill in the house and, with the help of the London detective, subjecting them to a searching examination as to the recent doings of their master and mistress and the butler.

But Mr.Lindsey motioned Mr.Elphinstone, and Mr.Gavin Smeaton, and myself into a side-room and shut the door on us.
"We can leave the police to do their own work," he remarked, motioning us to be seated at a convenient table.