unrolled. To the astonishment of Cuthbert, Ford clasped it in both
hands, blotted out the tiny flame, and, turning quickly to a table,
spread out the charred paper flat. After one quick glance, Ford ran
to the fireplace, and, seizing a handfull of the spills, began
rapidly to unroll them. Then he turned to Cuthbert and, without
speaking, showed him the charred spill. It was a scrap torn from
the front page of a newspaper. The half- obliterated words at which
Ford pointed were DALESVILLE COUR ----

"His torn paper!" said Ford. "The DALESVILLE COURIER. Pearsall HAS
been in this hotel!" He handed another spill to Cuthbert.

"From that one," said Ford, "we get the date, December 3. Allowing
three weeks for the newspaper to reach London, Pearsall must have
seen it just three weeks ago, just when Miss Dale says he was in
the hotel. The landlord has lied to me."

Ford rang for a waiter, and told him to ask Mr. Gerridge to come to
the smoking-room.

As Cuthbert was leaving it, Gerridge was entering it, and Ford was
saying:

"It seems you've been lying to the police and to me. Unless you
desire to he an accessory to a murder, You had better talk quick!"

An hour later Ford passed slowly through Sowell Street in a
taxicab, and, finding Cuthbert on guard, signalled him to follow.
in Wimpole Street the cab drew up to the curb, and Cuthbert entered
it.