“You think Hulme discovered this?”
“I do. And I think Sybil’s mislaying her ring gave him his big chance. He had got the chest out whilst she was in the library. He must have been inside somewhere looking for it when she passed through the hall. Then, hearing her approach from the library, he was forced to abandon his heavy ‘find’ and hide in the secret passage which communicates with his room. Directly she ran upstairs he returned for the chest!”
I looked him hard in the face.
“We don’t want a scene, Lorian,” I began. “Besides, it’s just possible you may be wrong.”
“I agree,” said Lorian. “Come up to his room, now.”
Passing quietly upstairs, we paused before the door of the Turret Room. A faint light showed under it. Lorian glanced at me—then knocked.
“Who’s there?” came sharply.
“Lorian,” answered my friend. “I want a chat with you about the secret passage and the old treasure chest—before speaking to the Colonel!”
There was a long silence, then: