The detective stood up; and for the first time in a long while he looked at the Saint again. Simon had rarely seen those baby blue eyes so utterly sleepy and impassive.

"Yes — it's about time for my morning tankard of ale," Simon murmured easily.

They strolled slowly back to the house.

"That's Joseph's room — the one with the balcony — is it?" Simon asked idly.

Teal nodded. "Yes. That's where he was lying down."

"Does he suffer from indigestion?"

The detective flashed a glance at him. "I don't know. Why?"

"I should like to know," said the Saint.

Back in the house, he asked to be shown the dining-room. On the sideboard he discovered a round cardboard box carefully labelled — after the supererogatory habit of chemists — "The Pills." Underneath was the inscription: "Two to be taken with water after each meal, as required."

The Saint examined the tablets, and smiled gently to himself.