It can't be explained by what I know." The Chief Inspector made those admissions with the frankness of a man whose reputation is established as if on a rock.

"At any rate not at this present moment.

I think that the man who had most to do with it will turn out to be Michaelis." "You do ?" "Yes, sir; because I can answer for all the others." "What about that other man supposed to have escaped from the park ?" "I should think he's far away by this time," opined the Chief Inspector.
The Assistant Commissioner looked hard at him, and rose suddenly, as though having made up his mind to some course of action.

As a matter of fact, he had that very moment succumbed to a fascinating temptation.

The Chief Inspector heard himself dismissed with instructions to meet his superior early next morning for further consultation upon the case.