“Whoever took the risk of abducting her,” Quest pointed out grimly, “did it for a purpose.  That purpose would probably have become developed in course of time.  However we look at it, Mr. Ashleigh, there was only one man who must have been anxious to get her out of the way, and that man was Craig.”

The Professor’s manner betrayed some excitement.

“Then will you tell me this?” he demanded.  “The young lady is confident that she locked Craig up in the coach-house and that the key was on the outside of the door, a fact which would prevent the lock being picked from inside, even if such a thing were possible.  The window is small, and up almost in the roof.  Will you tell me how Craig escaped from the coach-house in order to carry out this abduction—­all within a few minutes, mind, of his having been left there?  Will you tell me that, Mr. Sanford Quest?” the Professor concluded, with a note of triumph in his tone.

“That’s one of the troubles we are up against,” Quest admitted.  “We have to remember this, though.  The brain that planned the two murders here, that stole and restored Mrs. Rheinholdt’s jewels, that sends us those little billets-doux from time to time, is quite capable of finding a way out of a jerry-built garage.”

The Professor sniffed.  He turned once more to Lenora.

“Young lady,” he said, “I will ask you this.  I do not wish to seem obstinate in my refusal to accept Craig’s guilt as proved, but I would like to put this simple question to you.  Did Craig’s demeanour during your conversation seem to you to indicate the master criminal?  Did he seem to you to be possessed of supreme courage, of marvellous intelligence?”

Lenora smiled very faintly.

“I am afraid,” she replied, “that this time I’ll have to satisfy the Professor.  He was white and trembling all the time.  I thought him an arrant coward.”

The Professor smiled beatifically as he glanced around.  He had the air of one propounding an unanswerable problem.

“You hear what Miss Lenora says?  I ask you whether a man who even knew the meaning of the word fear could have carried out these ghastly crimes?”

“I have known cases,” Quest observed, “where the most cold-blooded criminals in the world have been stricken with the most deadly fear when it has come to a question of any personal danger.  However,” he added, “here comes our friend French.  I have an idea that he has something to tell us.”

They glanced expectantly towards the door as French entered.  The Inspector, who was looking very spruce and well-brushed, wished them a general good-morning.  His eyes rested last and longest upon Laura, who seemed, however, unconscious of his presence.

“Now, then, French,” Quest began, as he returned his greeting, “take a cigar, make yourself comfortable in that chair and let us have your news.  As you see, we have obeyed orders.  We are all ready to follow you anywhere you say.”