was stiletto, s-t-i-l-e-t-t-o--stiletto."

"Oh," said Coombes, "thanks."

Silence fell between the two men from Scotland Yard. Kerry stood
awhile, chewing and staring at the ghastly face of Sir Lucien. Then:

"Go through all pockets," he directed.

Sergeant Coombes placed his notebook and pencil upon the seat of the
chair and set to work. Kerry entered the inside room or office. It
contained a writing-table (upon which was a telephone and a pile of
old newspapers), a cabinet, and two chairs. Upon one of the chairs lay
a crush-hat, a cane, and an overcoat. He glanced at some of the
newspapers, then opened the drawers of the writing-table. They were
empty. The cabinet proved to be locked, and a door which he saw must
open upon a narrow passage running beside the suite of rooms was
locked also. There was nothing in the pockets of the overcoat, but
inside the hat he found pasted the initials L. P. He rolled chewing-
gum, stared reflectively at the little window immediately above the
table, through which a glimpse might be obtained of the ebony chair,
and went out again.

"Nothing," reported Coombes.

"What do you mean--nothing?"

"His pockets are empty!"

"All of them?"