whatever the size of the establishment; but as a matter of curiosity I should
like to know.'

'All very well to laugh,' replied the inspector, 'but at the first stage of
affairs it's the only safe principle, and you know that as well as I do, Mr.
Trent. However, I've seen enough of the people here, last night and today, to
put a few of them out of my mind for the present at least. You will form your
own conclusions. As for the establishment, there's the butler and lady's maid,
cook, and three other maids, one a young girl. One chauffeur, who's away with
a broken wrist. No boy.'

'What about the gardener? You say nothing about that shadowy and sinister
figure, the gardener. You are keeping him in the background, Murch. Play the
game. Out with him--or I report you to the Rules Committee.'

'The garden is attended to by a man in the village, who comes twice a week.
I've talked to him. He was here last on Friday.'

'Then I suspect him all the more,' said Trent. 'And now as to the house
itself. What I propose to do, to begin with, is to sniff about a little in
this room, where I am told Manderson spent a great deal of his time, and in
his bedroom; especially the bedroom. But since we're in this room, let's start
here. You seem to be at the same stage of the inquiry. Perhaps you've done the
bedrooms already?'

The inspector nodded. 'I've been over Manderson's and his wife's. Nothing to
be got there, I think. His room is very simple and bare, no signs of any
sort--that I could see. Seems to have insisted on the simple life, does
Manderson. Never employed a valet. The room's almost like a cell, except for
the clothes and shoes. You'll find it all exactly as I found it; and they tell