“The Mystery has been searched.”

“Well, somewhere.”

“That's the point—where?” Chick looked up with a quick smile. “When I mislay anything,” he said, “I stop and try to think of all the most likely places where I might have placed it.

“Then, before beginning my search I think of all the most unlikely places.

“And I begin with the unlikeliest of the unlikely, see?”

“Yes.”

“On the theory that if I had placed the article in a likely place it would not have been lost.”

“Exactly.”

“Hatfield is a shrewd fellow, I take it from your notes.”

“Very.”