"These speculations are useless, gentlemen," said Mr. Monroe,
with his usual air of settling the matter. "Cease then, I beg,
or at least postpone them. If you are walking down the avenue,
Mr. Parmalee, perhaps you'll be good enough to conduct Mr.
Burroughs to the Sedgwick Arms, where he doubtless can find
comfortable accommodations."

I thanked Mr. Monroe for the suggestion, but said,
straightforwardly enough, that I was not yet quite ready to leave
the Crawford house, but that I would not detain Mr. Parmalee, for
I could myself find my way to the inn, having noticed it on my
drive from the train.

So Parmalee went away, and I was about to return to Mr.
Crawford's office where I hoped to pursue a little uninterrupted
investigation.

But Mr. Monroe detained me a moment, to present me to a tall,
fine-looking man who had just come in.

He proved to be Philip Crawford, a brother of Joseph, and I at
once observed a strong resemblance between their two faces.

"I am glad to meet you, Mr. Burroughs," he said. "Mr. Monroe
tells me you are a clever and experienced detective, and I trust
you can help us to avenge this dastardly crime. I am busy with
some important matters just now, but later I shall be glad to
confer with you, and be of any help I can in your investigation."