THE SCRAP BOOK Brereton went back to his friend's house more puzzled than ever by the similarity of the entries in Kitely's memoranda and in Stoner's pocket-book.

Bent had gone over to Norcaster that afternoon, on business, and was not to be home until late in the evening: Brereton accordingly dined alone and had ample time to reflect and to think.

The reflecting and the thinking largely took the form of speculating--on the fact that certain terms and figures which had been set down by Kitely had also been set down by Stoner.

There were the initials--M.

& C.There was a date--if it was a date--81.