But Transome Kent was no longer listening. He had seized the edge of the billiard table.
"Look, look!" he cried eagerly. "The clue to the mystery! The positions of the billiard balls! The white ball in the very centre of the table, and the red just standing on the verge of the end pocket! What does it mean, Edwards, what does it mean?"
He had grasped Edwards by the arm and was peering into his face.
"I don't know," said the Inspector. "I don't play billiards."
"Neither do I," said Kent, "but I can find out. Quick! The nearest book-store. I must buy a book on billiards."
With a wave of the arm, Kent vanished.
The Inspector stood for a moment in thought.
"Gone!" he murmured to himself (it was his habit to murmur all really important speeches aloud to himself). "Now, why did Throgton telephone to me to put a watch on Kent? Ten dollars a day to shadow him! Why?"