"'They did not move the bed back again, but somebody else did.'
"'Who?'
"'That is what I hope to find out to-night? Are you yourself willing to sleep to-night in the big hall alone?'
"'Certainly. I don't exactly see what the idea is.'
"'Never mind about that. It may come to nothing. One can but try. You say that Rudd locked the door to this hall when he went out at night?'
"'Yes. A modern lock had been fitted, and the door locked itself as soon as it was shut. It could only be opened from the outside with a latch-key.'
"'And no one but yourself, that you know of, had a key?'
"'No one that I know of.'
"'Very well. I have a few things to see after. I must speak to this man Rudd. I shall see you again before nightfall.'
"I spent a horribly long day. I had to telegraph to the relatives of my two friends. I sent Rudd for books, and tried in vain to read. Rudd was aware that the police had a suspicious eye upon him and was in a state of suppressed fury. While Rudd was away I again examined the inner chamber. The window was too high up to be reached by anyone within the room, and too closely barred to admit of anyone passing through it. The chimney was equally impassable. No vestige of hope was left to me. At ten o'clock the inspector came in and told me that he had given up for the night. He looked thoughtfully towards the whisky decanter. I gave him a drink and mixed one for myself. Then he said good-night and went off.