At last I was forced to come to the conclusion that the stick had gone.

Either the valet or some one else must have borrowed it.
It was eleven o'clock by the time I had concluded my search, and there was no time for me to make any further inquiries.

I locked up my rooms and descended to the fifth floor.

The corridor was empty, and with the key which Louis had given me I opened the door of Mr.Delora's bedroom without difficulty.

The room was in darkness, but the electric-light knob was against the wall.