literary matter, but he pushed his manuscript aside as Venner came
excitedly into the room.

"Well, what is it?" he asked. "Anything fresh? But your face answers that
question. Have you found Bates?"

"No, I haven't," Venner said; "but he seems to have been discovered. I
bought this paper just now in Piccadilly, but I have not been able to
look at it yet. It is stated here that the mystery has been solved."

"Hand it over," Gurdon cried excitedly. "Let's see if we can find it. Ah!
here we are. The Press Association has just received a letter which
appears to come from Mr. Bates himself. He says he is very much annoyed
at all this fuss and bother in the papers, about his so-called
kidnapping. He goes on to say that he was called to the Continent by
pressing business, and that he had not even time to tell his servants he
was going, as it was imperatively necessary that he should catch the
midnight boat to Dieppe. The correspondent of the Press Association says
that Mr. Bates has been interviewed by a foreign journalist, who is
absolutely certain as to his identity. Moreover, an official has called
at Mr. Bates' residence and found that his servants have had a letter
from their master instructing them to join him at once, as he has let his
house furnished for the next two months. Well, my dear man, that seems to
be very satisfactory, and effectually disposes of the idea that Mr. Bates
has been mysteriously kidnapped. I am rather sorry for this in a way,
because it upsets all our theories and makes it necessary to begin our
task all over again."

"I don't believe a word of it," Venner said. "I believe it's a gigantic
bluff. I was coming to see you to-night in any case, but after buying