I shall now be glad if you will permit me to examine the gardens outside for a few minutes, alone with my assistant, if you please." For almost a quarter of an hour, Quest and Lenora disappeared.

They all looked eagerly at the criminologist on his return, but his face was sphinxlike.

He turned to Mrs.Rheinholdt, who with her son, the butler, and the Professor were the only occupants of the conservatory.
"It seems to me," he remarked, "that from the back part of the house the quickest way to reach Mayton Avenue would be through this conservatory and out of that door.

There is a path leading from just outside straight to a gate in the wall.

Does any one that you know of use this means of exit ?" Mrs.Rheinholdt shook her head.
"The servants might occasionally," she remarked doubtfully, "but not on nights when I am receiving." The butler stepped forward.