it."

The criminologist read it aloud. Lenora looked over his shoulder:--

"To Professor Edgar Ashleigh, New York.

"My dear Professor,

"Your communication gratifies and amazes me. I can say no more.
It fell to your lot to discover the skeleton of the anthropoid,
a marvellous thing, in its way, and needing only its corollary
to form the greatest discovery since the dark ages. Now you tell
me that in the person of Hartoo, the last of the Inyamo Race of
South America, you have found that corollary. You have supplied
the missing link. You are in a position to give to the world a
definite and logical explanation of the evolution of man. Let me
give you one word of warning, Professor, before I write you at
greater length on this matter. Anthropologists are afflicted
more, even, than any other race of scientific men, with
jealousy. Guard your secret well, lest the honour of this
discovery should be stolen from you.

"WILLIAM RAYSMORE."

[Illustration: QUEST AND LENORA RECEIVE THE MESSAGE FROM LAURA.]

[Illustration: QUEST IS SURPRISED AT FINDING THE STOLEN NECKLACE IN THE
BLACK BOX.]

The Professor nodded deliberately as Quest finished the letter.