If my skeleton cannot be recovered, the work of years is undone." Quest strolled thoughtfully around the room, glancing out of each of the windows in turn.

He kept close to the wall, and when he had finished he drew out a magnifying-glass from his pocket and made a brief examination of the box.

Then he asked a few questions of the curator, pointed out one of the windows to Lenora and whispered a few directions to her.

She at once produced what seemed to be a foot-rule from the bag which she was carrying, and hurried into the garden.
"A little invention of my own for measuring foot-prints," Quest explained.
"Not much use here, I am afraid." "What do you think of the affair so far, Mr.Quest ?" the Professor asked eagerly.
The criminologist shook his head.
"Incomprehensible," he confessed.

"Can you think, by-the-bye, of any other motive for the theft besides scientific jealousy ?" "There could be no other," the Professor declared sadly, "and it is, alas! too prevalent.