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Rochester's¡¡smile¡¡was¡¡exasperating¡¡as¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Stone¡£

¡¨Judging¡¡from¡¡Stone's¡¡remarks¡¡about¡¡aconitine¡¡¡­¡¡which¡¡I¡¡overheard£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡interpolated¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡gather¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡is¡¡tolerably¡¡familiar¡¡with¡¡the¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drug¡£¡¡¡¡Does¡¡aconitine¡¡kill¡¡instantly£»¡¡doctor£¿¡¨

Stone¡¡cleared¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡before¡¡speaking¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡period¡¡averages¡¡about¡¡four¡¡hours£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡Rochester's¡¡eyes¡¡sparkled¡¡as¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡detective¡£

¡¨Jimmie¡¡died¡¡almost¡¡immediately¡¡after¡¡I¡¡handed¡¡him¡¡that¡¡drink¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡declared¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡know¡¡who¡¡administered¡¡that¡¡aconitine¡¡poison£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡who¡¡Jimmie¡¡was¡¡with¡¡at¡¡the¡¡McIntyre¡¡house¡¡in¡¡the¡¡early¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡Tuesday¡¡morning¡£¡¨

The¡¡sharp¡¡imperative¡¡ring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡bell¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡silence¡¡which¡¡followed¡£¡¡¡¡Kent£»¡¡standing¡¡nearest¡¡the¡¡instrument£»¡¡picked¡¡it¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡recognized¡¡Sylvester's¡¡voice¡¡over¡¡the¡¡wire¡£

¡¨A¡¡message¡¡has¡¡just¡¡come£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Kent£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡called£»¡¡¡¨from¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Brewster¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡she¡¡will¡¡be¡¡in¡¡your¡¡office¡¡at¡¡four¡¡o'clock¡£¡¨


CHAPTER¡¡XIX

THE¡¡RED¡¡SEAL¡¡AGAIN

Harry¡¡Kent¡¡inserted¡¡his¡¡key¡¡in¡¡his¡¡office¡¡door¡¡with¡¡more¡¡vigor¡¡than¡¡good¡¡judgment£»¡¡and¡¡spent¡¡some¡¡seconds¡¡in¡¡re¡­adjusting¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lock¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡office¡¡he¡¡put¡¡up¡¡the¡¡latch¡¡and¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡glance¡¡around¡¡the¡¡empty¡¡office¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Sylvester¡¡had¡¡obeyed¡¡his¡¡telephone¡¡instructions¡¡and¡¡gone¡¡out¡¡to¡¡luncheon¡£

Kent¡¡noted¡¡with¡¡satisfaction¡¡as¡¡he¡¡put¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡and¡¡cane¡¡in¡¡the¡¡coat¡¡closet¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡over¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡before¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Brewster's¡¡expected¡¡arrival£»¡¡ample¡¡time¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡in¡¡quietude¡¡the¡¡events¡¡of¡¡the¡¡past¡¡few¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡plan¡¡for¡¡his¡¡interview¡¡with¡¡the¡¡pretty¡¡widow¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡time¡¡between¡¡Rochester's¡¡sudden¡¡reappearance¡¡and¡¡a¡¡hastily¡¡swallowed¡¡lunch¡¡at¡¡a¡¡downtown¡¡caf¡¡£»¡¡in¡¡arranging¡¡bail¡¡for¡¡Rochester¡£¡¡¡¡Ferguson¡¡had¡¡proved¡¡obdurate¡¡and¡¡had¡¡persisted¡¡in¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡lawyer¡¡to¡¡Police¡¡Headquarters¡£

Dr¡£¡¡Stone¡¡had¡¡accompanied¡¡the¡¡trio£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡testimony£»¡¡supported¡¡by¡¡two¡¡chemists£»¡¡regarding¡¡the¡¡time¡¡required¡¡for¡¡aconitine¡¡poison¡¡to¡¡act£»¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡far¡¡to¡¡weaken¡¡the¡¡detective's¡¡case¡¡against¡¡Rochester¡£

Rochester£»¡¡to¡¡Kent's¡¡unbounded¡¡astonishment£»¡¡had¡¡appeared¡¡indifferent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡proceedings£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡his¡¡partner's¡¡urgent¡¡inquiries¡¡as¡¡to¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡past¡¡four¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡disappeared£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡returned¡¡one¡¡invariable¡¡answer¡£

¡¨I'll¡¡explain¡¡in¡¡good¡¡time£»¡¡Harry£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡until¡¡they¡¡were¡¡leaving¡¡Police¡¡Headquarters¡¡that¡¡his¡¡apathy¡¡vanished¡£

¡¨When¡¡are¡¡you¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Brewster£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£

¡¨She¡¡will¡¡be¡¡at¡¡our¡¡office¡¡at¡¡four¡¡o'clock¡£¡¡¡¡Say£»¡¡Phil¡¨¡¡¡­¡¡but¡¡Rochester£»¡¡shaking¡¡off¡¡his¡¡detaining¡¡hand£»¡¡darted¡¡across¡¡the¡¡street¡¡and¡¡sprang¡¡into¡¡a¡¡passing¡¡taxi¡¡bearing¡¡the¡¡sign£»¡¡¡¨For¡¡Hire£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡Kent¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡of¡¡his¡¡elusive¡¡partner¡£

Kent¡¡dropped¡¡into¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡and¡¡glanced¡¡askance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mail¡¡piled¡¡in¡¡neat¡¡array¡¡on¡¡his¡¡desk£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡a¡¡frame¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡routine¡¡office¡¡business¡£¡¡¡¡Other¡¡clients¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡until¡¡later¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡memorandum¡¡pad£»¡¡bearing¡¡a¡¡message¡¡in¡¡Sylvester's¡¡precise¡¡penmanship¡¡attracted¡¡his¡¡wandering¡¡attention¡¡and¡¡he¡¡picked¡¡it¡¡up¡£

¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Kent£º¡¨¡¡he¡¡read¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Colonel¡¡McIntyre¡¡called¡¡just¡¡after¡¡I¡¡talked¡¡with¡¡you¡¡on¡¡the¡¡'phone£»¡¡he¡¡waited¡¡in¡¡your¡¡office¡¡for¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡then¡¡left£»¡¡stating¡¡he¡¡would¡¡come¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡Barbara¡¡McIntyre¡¡called¡¡immediately¡¡afterwards£»¡¡but¡¡would¡¡not¡¡wait¡¡more¡¡than¡¡five¡¡minutes¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Clymer¡¡came¡¡as¡¡she¡¡was¡¡going¡¡out¡¡and¡¡left¡¡a¡¡note¡¡on¡¡your¡¡desk¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡return¡¡soon¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨SYLVESTER¡£¡¨

Kent¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡the¡¡pad¡¡and¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡a¡¡twisted¡¡three¡­cornered¡¡note¡¡bearing¡¡his¡¡name¡¡in¡¡pencil¡£¡¡¡¡Unfolding¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡scanned¡¡the¡¡hurriedly¡¡written¡¡lines£º

¡¨Dear¡¡Kent¡¡¡­¡¡McIntyre¡¡telephoned¡¡there¡¡were¡¡new¡¡developments¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Turnbull¡¡affair¡£¡¡¡¡Will¡¡be¡¡back¡¡later¡£¡¨Yours¡¡¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨B¡£¡¡A¡£¡¡CLYMER¡£¡¨

Kent¡¡judged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡his¡¡initials¡¡that¡¡Clymer¡¡was¡¡stirred¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡ordinary¡¡calm£»¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡explained¡¡his¡¡failure¡¡to¡¡sign¡¡his¡¡full¡¡name£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡confidences¡¡McIntyre¡¡had¡¡made¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡president¡£

Tossing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡note£»¡¡Kent¡¡lighted¡¡his¡¡pipe£»¡¡tilted¡¡back¡¡in¡¡his¡¡swivel¡¡chair£»¡¡and¡¡reviewed¡¡the¡¡facts¡¡which¡¡implicated¡¡Rochester¡¡in¡¡Jimmie¡¡Turnbull's¡¡murder¡£¡¡¡¡Rochester's¡¡quarrels¡¡with¡¡Jimmie£»¡¡his¡¡persistent¡¡assertion¡¡that¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡had¡¡died¡¡from¡¡angina¡¡pectoris£»¡¡his¡¡unexplained¡¡disappearance¡¡on¡¡Tuesday¡¡night£»¡¡the¡¡fake¡¡telegram¡¡from¡¡Cleveland¡¡stating¡¡he¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡the¡¡withdrawal¡¡of¡¡his¡¡bank¡¡deposits£»¡¡the¡¡forged¡¡checks£»¡¡his¡¡mysterious¡¡visits¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡apartment£»¡¡when¡¡considered¡¡together£»¡¡presented¡¡a¡¡chain¡¡of¡¡circumstantial¡¡evidence¡¡connecting¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡crime¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Stone's¡¡testimony£»¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡¡¨could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡administered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡water¡¡Rochester¡¡had¡¡given¡¡Jimmie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡police¡¡court¡£

Four¡¡hours¡¡at¡¡least¡¡had¡¡to¡¡elapse¡¡before¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡dose¡¡of¡¡aconitine¡¡could¡¡take¡¡effect¡¡¡­¡¡four¡¡hours£¡¡¡¡¡Kent¡¡told¡¡them¡¡off¡¡on¡¡his¡¡fingers£»¡¡it¡¡placed¡¡the¡¡crime¡¡in¡¡the¡¡McIntyre¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡Which¡¡one¡¡of¡¡its¡¡inmates¡¡administered¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡to¡¡Jimmie¡¡and¡¡how¡¡had¡¡it¡¡been¡¡done£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡motive¡¡had¡¡prompted¡¡the¡¡cashier's¡¡murder£¿

It¡¡was¡¡preposterous¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡either¡¡of¡¡the¡¡twins¡¡was¡¡guilty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crime¡£¡¡¡¡Helen's¡¡devotion¡¡to¡¡Jimmie£»¡¡her¡¡insistence¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡autopsy¡¡being¡¡held¡¡indicated¡¡her¡¡innocence¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡stated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡inquest¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡not¡¡known¡¡the¡¡burglar's¡¡identity£»¡¡Kent¡¡paused¡¡as¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡him¡¡¡­¡¡the¡¡twins¡¡had¡¡swapped¡¡identities¡¡on¡¡the¡¡witness¡¡stand£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡Helen¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡that¡¡question£¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡his¡¡recollection¡¡she¡¡had¡¡only¡¡been¡¡asked¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡recognized¡¡Jimmie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡court¡¡room¡¡and¡¡not¡¡at¡¡her¡¡home¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Helen¡¡it¡¡was¡¡who¡¡had¡¡summoned¡¡Officer¡¡O'Ryan¡¡on¡¡discovering¡¡the¡¡burglar¡¡and¡¡had¡¡him¡¡arrested¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡surely¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡done¡¡so¡¡had¡¡she¡¡guessed¡¡his¡¡identity¡£

As¡¡for¡¡Barbara¡¡McIntyre¡¡¡­¡¡Kent's¡¡heart¡¡beat¡¡faster¡¡at¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡so¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡Circumstantial¡¡evidence¡¡had¡¡seemed¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡¡to¡¡involve¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crime¡£¡¡¡¡Grimes'¡¡outrageous¡¡insinuation¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡assaulted¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡confiding¡¡to¡¡her¡¡that¡¡the¡¡box¡¡of¡¡aconitine¡¡pills¡¡had¡¡been¡¡left¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡table¡¡where¡¡any¡¡one¡¡could¡¡get¡¡them£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡outcome¡¡of¡¡his¡¡battered¡¡condition¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡physical¡¡strength¡¡returned£»¡¡the¡¡butler¡¡would¡¡forget¡¡his¡¡hallucinations¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡handkerchief¡¡with¡¡its¡¡embroidered¡¡letter¡¡¡¨B£»¡¨¡¡used¡¡by¡¡Jimmie¡¡to¡¡inhale¡¡the¡¡fumes¡¡from¡¡his¡¡amyl¡¡nitrite¡¡capsules£»¡¡was¡¡finally¡¡traced¡¡to¡¡its¡¡rightful¡¡owner¡¡¡­¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Brewster¡£

And¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Brewster¡¡was¡¡due¡¡in¡¡his¡¡office¡¡within¡¡a¡¡very¡¡short¡¡time¡£¡¡Kent's¡¡square¡¡jaw¡¡became¡¡more¡¡pronounced£»¡¡she¡¡should¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡until¡¡she¡¡had¡¡either¡¡confessed¡¡her¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡Turnbull's¡¡death£»¡¡or¡¡established¡¡her¡¡innocence¡£¡¡¡¡Surely¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡easy¡¡for¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Brewster¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡but¡¡¡­¡¡aconitine¡¡had¡¡been¡¡prescribed¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡familiar¡¡with¡¡the¡¡poison£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡it¡¡at¡¡hand£»¡¡she¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡police¡¡court£»¡¡and¡¡kept¡¡her¡¡trip¡¡a¡¡secret£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡laughed¡¡when¡¡Jimmie¡¡was¡¡carried¡¡dying¡¡from¡¡the¡¡court¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡what¡¡motive¡¡could¡¡have¡¡inspired¡¡her¡¡to¡¡murder¡¡Jimmie£¿¡¡¡¡Was¡¡he¡¡an¡¡old¡¡lover¡¡¡­¡¡Kent£»¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡quiet¡¡any¡¡longer£»¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡paced¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡office£»¡¡stopping¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡to¡¡glance¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡safe¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡door¡¡was¡¡ajar¡£¡¡¡¡Kent¡¡paused¡¡abruptly¡£¡¡Who¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡safe£¿

Crossing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡office¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡around£»¡¡no¡¡one¡¡was¡¡there¡£¡¡It¡¡flashed¡¡into¡¡Kent's¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡Rochester's¡¡light¡¡top¡¡coat¡¡and¡¡walking¡¡stick¡¡in¡¡the¡¡coat¡¡closet¡¡as¡¡he¡¡hung¡¡up¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡on¡¡his¡¡arrival£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡again¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡closet¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡coat¡¡and¡¡stick¡¡were¡¡still¡¡there£»¡¡so¡¡Rochester¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡office¡¡immediately¡¡after¡¡leaving¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡carelessly¡¡left¡¡the¡¡safe¡¡open£¡¡¡¡¡Kent¡¡smiled¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡his¡¡vexation£»¡¡the¡¡act¡¡was¡¡typical¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eccentric¡¡partner¡£

Going¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡office¡¡Kent¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡safe¡¡and¡¡glanced¡¡inside¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pigeon¡¡holes¡¡and¡¡compartments¡¡appeared¡¡untouched£»¡¡except¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡one¡¡small¡¡compartment¡¡on¡¡Rochester's¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡envelope¡¡was¡¡wedged¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡manner¡¡that¡¡the¡¡small¡¡door¡¡would¡¡not¡¡shut¡¡and¡¡that¡¡had¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡closing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡safe¡¡door¡£

Kent£»¡¡preparatory¡¡to¡¡shutting¡¡the¡¡safe£»¡¡drew¡¡out¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡place¡¡it¡¡in¡¡another¡¡pigeon¡­hole¡¡where¡¡there¡¡was¡¡more¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡over¡¡he¡¡was¡¡thunderstruck¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡it¡¡as¡¡the¡¡one¡¡which¡¡Helen¡¡McIntyre¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡safe¡¡on¡¡Wednesday¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡last¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡lying¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡in¡¡the¡¡smoking¡¡porch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Club¡¡de¡¡Vingt£»¡¡from¡¡whence¡¡it¡¡had¡¡mysteriously¡¡disappeared£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡it¡¡was¡¡back¡¡again¡¡in¡¡Rochester's¡¡safe£¡

Had¡¡it¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡missing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡safe£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡question¡¡forced¡¡itself¡¡on¡¡Kent¡¡as¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡his¡¡chair£»¡¡envelope¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡before¡¡his¡¡desk¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡accepted¡¡Detective¡¡Ferguson's¡¡statement¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡removed¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡from¡¡the¡¡safe£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡had¡¡never¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡compartment¡¡where¡¡Helen¡¡had¡¡put¡¡it¡¡to¡¡verify¡¡its¡¡disappearance¡£

Ferguson¡¡had¡¡removed¡¡it£»¡¡Kent¡¡concluded¡¡as¡¡he¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡with¡¡more¡¡care£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡identical¡¡one£»¡¡unaddressed£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡red¡¡seal¡¡holding¡¡down¡¡the¡¡flap¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡same¡¡red¡¡seal£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡a¡¡difference¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡was¡¡missing¡£

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Kent¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡dumbfounded¡¡silence£»¡¡regarding¡¡the¡¡red¡¡seal¡¡and¡¡the¡¡envelope¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡wax¡¡broken¡¡off¡¡from¡¡the¡¡seal¡¡had¡¡caught¡¡on¡¡his¡¡coat¡¡sleeve¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Venetian¡¡casket¡¡in¡¡the¡¡library¡¡at¡¡the¡¡McIntyre¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡proof¡¡positive¡¡that¡¡not¡¡only¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡casket£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡sealed¡¡envelope¡¡also¡£¡¡¡¡Helen¡¡McIntyre¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡in¡¡his¡¡care¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Brewster¡¡and¡¡Colonel¡¡McIntyre¡¡had¡¡both¡¡been¡¡present¡¡when¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡was¡¡stolen¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Which¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡it£¿¡¡Which¡¡one¡¡had¡¡afterwards¡¡secreted¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Venetian¡¡casket£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡which¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡it¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡safe¡¡in¡¡his¡¡office£¿

Colonel¡¡McIntyre¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡his¡¡office¡¡within¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡¡­¡¡the¡¡question¡¡was¡¡answered£»¡¡and¡¡Kent's¡¡eyes¡¡brighten
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