Your man Marston, when he visited Mr.
Carpenter this morning, managed inadvertently to furnish the key-word of
the Clephane letter. Do you see whither your meeting with Snodgrass, an
ex-officer of the Army, in view of the translation of the letter leads,
Madeline? Marston, I might remark, was quickly apprehended; if he made a
copy of the letter, he had no opportunity to use it. Well, you went to
the Rataplan with Snodgrass--every movement you two made, from the time
you joined Snodgrass at the Chateau until I myself put you in my cab
when you returned to the hotel, was observed by numerous and competent
shadows. We were convinced that you were to receive the formula--"
"What formula, Guy?"
"The formula mentioned in the Clephane letter," he explained; "which
formula you received from Snodgrass during the ride back from the
Rataplan to the Chateau. He received it there by post, and got it from
his box as you were leaving. He even was foolish enough to open the
original envelope, and to put the one enclosed, unopened in his pocket.
You immediately took a taxi for the Chateau. My taxi was close behind
yours; and I caught you as you were alighting and hurried you off to--"
"This pleasant appointment!" she laughed.
Pages:
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280