"(e) After 1 P.M. no one entered the Collingwood by the usual way, and
no one telephoned; how, therefore, did anyone in the Collingwood know of
the incident of the cab, and of my connection with it.

"(f) Who is Mrs. Winton of the Burlingame apartments?

"(g) Why was she in Peacock Alley, wearing black and red roses, at five
o'clock this afternoon?"

Harleston read over the list, folded it, and put it in his pocket-book;
then he went to bed. There was plenty for him to seek, in regard to the
affair of the cab of the sleeping horse, but nothing more for the
Spencer gang to inspect in his apartment. Crenshaw had made a thorough
job of his investigation.

In the morning he took out the list and went over it again. They all
were dependent on the translation of the letter; if it did not show that
the United States was concerned in the matter, the rest became merely of
academic interest--and Harleston had little inclination and no time for
things academic. The difficulty was, that until the key to the cipher
was found nothing was academic which appeared to have any bearing on the
affair.

So he sent for the manager of the Collingwood, and asked as to the
Chartrands. The manager's information, which was definite if not
extensive, was to the effect that the Chartrands were people of means
from Denver, with excellent social position there, and with connections
in Washington. They had been tenants of the Collingwood less than a
week, having sublet the Dryand apartment. It was a large apartment. Mr.