The Thinking Machine rose suddenly and glared at the reporter. There was a tense silence, broken at last by a chuckle from Detective Mallory.
"Dead?" repeated the scientist incredulously. "Do you know that?"
"Yes, I—I know it."
The Thinking Machine stood for another moment squinting at him, then, turning, left the room.
CHAPTER VII
Half an hour later The Thinking Machine walked in, unannounced, upon Dick Herbert. The front door had not been locked; Blair was somewhere in the rear. Herbert, in some surprise, glanced up at his visitor just in time to see him plank himself down solidly into a chair.
"Mr. Herbert," the scientist began, "I have gone out of my way to prove to the police that you were not in the automobile with Miss Meredith, and that you did not steal the gold plate found in your possession. Now, I happen to know the name of the thief, and——"
"And if you mention it to one living soul," Dick added suddenly, hotly, "I shall forget myself and—and——"
"His name is George Francis Hayden," the scientist continued.