"His two partners in America, myself, and Mr. Harbord there."
Peace turned to the young man with a smile and a polite bow.
"Can you add any names to the list?" he asked.
"No," said Harbord, staring at the detective with a puzzled look, as if trying to catch the drift of his questions.
"Thank you," said the Inspector; "and now will you show me the place where this curious disappearance occurred?"
We crossed the drive, where the snow lay torn and trampled by the carriages, and so to the white, even surface of the lawn. We soon struck the trail, a confused path beaten by many footprints. Peace stooped for a moment, and then turned to the secretary with an angry glance.
"Were you with them?" he said.
"Yes."
"Then why, in the name of common sense, didn't you keep them off his tracks? You have simply trampled them out of existence, between you."
"We were in a hurry, Inspector," said the secretary meekly. "We didn't think about it."