Cornelius was obviously elated. "Sorry to 'ave kept you so long, Kenly," he remarked. "But I 'ad to wait for an answer to something. We must have another drink."

They had it and the detective learned that Cornelius was expecting to return to town the following day.

CHAPTER XIX
INSPECTOR KENLY REPORTS

Although Cornelius had been entirely unaware of the fact, his late landlord had arrived at Whitsea by the same train as himself, and had been keeping a sharp eye on him, and if it were possible, a still sharper eye on Guy Hora. But Kenly's observation had been unproductive until the time when he obeyed the impulse to make himself known to Jessel. He had been impelled to do so by sheer desperation at having passed, from a professional point of view, one of the most unprofitable fortnights of his life. He had not anticipated any remarkable revelations when he had followed Cornelius into the hotel bar, and when he finally bade his old tenant good-bye, he had no need to force a spice of heartiness into the greeting.

Directly after Jessel left him he felt the necessity for rearranging all his theories, but at the same time he was equally alive to the desirability of getting to work upon the new clue which was in his possession. There was now nothing to keep him in Whitsea. He had learned of Guy's intention to return to London the following day, and he determined to be in town before him. There would be plenty of time to decide upon the best course to pursue during the journey.

He went into the hotel, packed his bag, and paid his bill in a desperate hurry, for the hotel omnibus was at the door.

He caught his train and was thankful to find so few people travelling that he could get a compartment to himself. He could marshal his ideas better in solitude. Still, arrange them and rearrange them as he might, he could get no nearer a reasonable explanation of the relationship of the various parties who had become objects of his suspicion. The only theory which seemed at all tenable was that the Horas, father and son, Cornelius Jessel and Captain Marven were all members of a gang of criminals who operated in perfect safety by reason of the social position of the principals. But in such case Kenly could not understand the motive of the elaborate plot by means of which Cornelius had secured for himself his place in Guy's service. Nor could he comprehend why Captain Marven's name should have been used in regard to the stock exchange operations which had followed upon the acquisition of the knowledge contained in the despatches. To Kenly, that seemed such a gratuitous piece of folly, as to be entirely unworthy of the audacious person who had planned and carried out the Flurscheim coup.

Like a wise man, he ceased after a while to trouble himself with inventing explanations to fit theories. He knew very well that once all the facts were in his hands an explanation would be easy to find, and he was anxious to get some additional facts. Was not that the motive which had made him decide to leave Whitsea in such a hurry? He knew very well that Guy was not carrying the stolen picture about with him, and he had learned quite enough about Whitsea Hall to be quite assured in his own mind that the picture was not likely to be reposing there. He had, however, become sufficiently acquainted with Lynton Hora's mode of life from his friend the hall porter of Westminster Mansions, to warrant the assumption that the Greuze was hidden somewhere in Lynton Hora's flat. If he could only get an opportunity to verify his suspicion before any of the persons he suspected were alarmed, he saw an opportunity of bringing off a coup which would provide a startling denouement to the sensational Flurscheim burglary. The thought ran away with him to such an extent that he allowed himself to taste the sweets of success. He imagined himself reading the references in the newspapers to "the smart work of that able officer, Detective Inspector Kenly." He imagined himself listening to the commendations of the Judge when the prisoners at the bar had been sentenced to various terms of penal servitude, and—— He awoke to the bustle of Liverpool Street railway station, limp with perspiration, still undecided as to the best manner of setting about getting the evidence he needed, and perforce compelled to leave circumstances to guide his course of action.

He permitted himself the luxury of a cab to Scotland Yard, where he proposed to deposit his bag and report himself. He had another reason for calling at headquarters. He foresaw that very shortly the moment might arrive when he would not be able to deal with the situation single-handed. If all the parties whom he expected to be implicated in the two affairs were to be kept under surveillance, he would need assistance, and he was not quite certain whether that moment had not already arrived when some such steps were necessary. Then Mr. Hildebrand Flurscheim might at any moment communicate with the Yard, and Inspector Kenly did not want anyone else to be put on the job without his knowledge. He knew that as he had previously had the investigation in hand, if he reported himself back in town he would be communicated with in the event of any fresh information coming to hand, even though he was detailed for special service on the Foreign Office affair, and thereby relieved of the obligation to render daily reports of his work to his own department.

He was glad that he had determined to report himself, for he found awaiting him a pressing message from the Permanent Secretary, asking him to call at the Foreign Office, as the Great Man was anxious to know the result of his investigations.