"Well, your house, as the little girl said in the story, presents a remarkable disappearance."
Robert turned toward the stranger who was so facetious out of season. Inspector McCausland had just parted company with the fire marshal and was sauntering carelessly about.
"How did it happen? Do they know yet?" asked Robert, anxiously.
"I don't," answered McCausland. "Possibly so"—he filliped off the lighted end of his cigar, but it fell into a black moat alongside of the curbstone and went out with a gentle hiss.
"But none of us smoked."
"Perhaps it was of incendiary origin," said the detective. "There have been some strange fires lately."
"It is a mystery," answered Robert Floyd.