after her queer fashion, still fond of me, and when she learns that
this good-by is final there may be a scene, and it is not fair to her
that you should be here. So, go home at once, and tell the governor
that I am following you in ten minutes.' "'That,' said Arthur, 'is the
way we parted. I never left him on more friendly terms. I was happy to
see him alive again, I was happy to think he had returned in time to
make up his quarrel with my father, and I was happy that at last he
was shut of that woman. I was never better pleased with him in my
life.' He turned to Inspector Lyle, who was sitting at the foot of the
bed taking notes of all he told us.

"'Why in the name of common sense,' he cried, 'should I have chosen
that moment of all others to send my brother back to the grave!' For a
moment the Inspector did not answer him. I do not know if any of you
gentlemen are acquainted with Inspector Lyle, but if you are not, I
can assure you that he is a very remarkable man. Our firm often
applies to him for aid, and he has never failed us; my father has the
greatest possible respect for him. Where he has the advantage over the
ordinary police official is in the fact that he possesses imagination.
He imagines himself to be the criminal, imagines how he would act
under the same circumstances, and he imagines to such purpose that he
generally finds the man he wants. I have often told Lyle that if he
had not been a detective he would have made a great success as a poet,
or a playwright.

"When Arthur turned on him Lyle hesitated for a moment, and then told
him exactly what was the case against him.

"'Ever since your brother was reported as having died in Africa,' he
said, 'your Lordship has been collecting money on post obits. Lord