"I sent for you, Mansus, because I suffer from the illusion that
you have more brains than most of the people in my department, and
that's not saying much."

"I am very grateful to you, sir, for putting me right with
Commissioner," began Mansus, but T. X. stopped him.

"It is the duty of every head of departments," he said oracularly,
"to shield the incompetence of his subordinates. It is only by
the adoption of some such method that the decencies of the public
life can be observed. Now get down to this." He gave a sketch of
the case from start to finish in as brief a space of time as
possible.

"The evidence against Mr. Lexman is very heavy," he said. "He
borrowed money from this man, and on the man's body were found
particulars of the very Promissory Note which Lexman signed. Why
he should have brought it with him, I cannot say. Anyhow I doubt
very much whether Mr. Lexman will get a jury to accept his
version. Our only chance is to find the Greek's revolver - I
don't think there's any very great chance, but if we are to be
successful we must make a search at once."

Before he went out he had an interview with Grace. The dark
shadows under her eyes told of a sleepless night. She was
unusually pale and surprisingly calm.

"I think there are one or two things I ought to tell you," she
said, as she led the way into the drawing room, closing the door
behind him.