"Much obliged," he said, with a grin.

He ran lightly into the alcove and tiptoed out of the terrace door, closing the door behind him.

Beresford and Billy departed to take up their posts in the kitchen.

"I'll go with you, if you don't mind--" and Jack Bailey had followed them, leaving Miss Cornelia and Dale alone with the Doctor.

Miss Cornelia, glad of the opportunity to get the Doctor's theories on the mystery without Anderson's interference, started to question him at once.
"Doctor." "Yes." The Doctor turned, politely.
"Have you any theory about this occurrence to-night ?" She watched him eagerly as she asked the question.
He made a gesture of bafflement.
"None whatever--it's beyond me," he confessed.
"And yet you warned me to leave this house," said Miss Cornelia cannily.