preparation."

"Her ailment was imaginary?"

"I fear so."

"H'm--and now you say that Mrs. M'Gregor saw the car?"

"Yes, but she has retired."

"Her evidence will do to-morrow. We come to the man in the hood. Can
you give me any kind of a description of him?"

"He appeared to be tall, but a shadow is deceptive, and his
extraordinary costume would produce that effect, too. I can tell you
absolutely nothing further about him. Remember, I thought I was
dreaming. I could not credit my senses."

Inspector Dunbar glanced over the notes which he had made, then
returning the note-book and pen to his pocket, he took up the long
smoke-discoloured envelope and with a paper-knife which lay upon the
table slit one end open. Inserting two fingers, he drew out the second
envelope which the first enclosed. It was an ordinary commercial
envelope only notable by reason of the number, 30, appearing in large
red figures upon it and because it was sealed with black wax bearing
a weird-looking device:

Stuart bent over him intently as he slit this envelope in turn. Again,
he inserted two fingers--and brought forth the sole contents... a
plain piece of cardboard, roughly rectangular and obviously cut in