Miss King's conduct was unaccountable.

The judge's was strange.

But Meldon held a belief that there is no problem so difficult but will yield its solution to patient thought and tobacco.
He drew in and expelled rich clouds of smoke; and set himself to think hard.

The judge had recognised the impossibility of living in Doyle's hotel.

That was a plain and intelligible point from which to start.
He had gone straight to Ballymoy House, knowing that he would find Miss King there.