The puzzled and slightly dissatisfied audience poured out of the inquest hall with a feeling that they had been defrauded. There was no chance of a verdict of murder against Bruce after the last two bits of startling and quite unexpected evidence. Two credible witnesses had proved that one of the people who had called Bruce to the corner house had remained after he had left. The case was just as fascinating, and at the same time as puzzling as ever. The real culprit as yet might have to be found, but there was no getting away from these facts about the stolen banknotes. Still, the coroner\'s jury were not called to try that question, and at the suggestion of Prout the matter was adjourned for a month.

Bruce was allowed to take his own way, a result he had not confidently expected. The vulgar curiosity of the passing crowd annoyed him. Standing outside the vestry hall was a carriage and a pair of horses. Leona Lalage, seated inside, smiled brilliantly on Bruce and his companion, and the footman opened the door.

"I managed to get inside," the Countess said. "Did anybody ever hear so foolish a fuss? And that silly juryman!"

"I am afraid I should have shared his opinion under similar circumstances," said Bruce. "You see my guilt----"

"I shall not listen to a word of it," the Countess cried. "The mere suggestion is revolting to one\'s common sense. Fancy you committing a vulgar crime like that! Jump in, and let us get away from this awful crowd. Where shall I drive you?"

It was all the same to Hetty so long as she got away from the insolent people. They must go back and have tea at Lytton Avenue. There would be nobody present, and the Countess would not be at home to anybody. Nothing could be sweeter or more sympathetic than her manner.

To lounge there in that dimly-lighted and perfectly appointed room was soothing and restful. Bruce carried his head a little higher as he made his way home.

There was a smell of tobacco in his room and a vision of Lawrence with his heels on the mantelpiece smoking a cigarette. He was looking at a paragraph in an early edition of the Globe that seemed to give him satisfaction.

"So you\'ve got back," he said. "Rather a sensational bit of copy for the papers over the inquest, eh? That pompous juryman\'s face was a study when Hetty and that reporter chap knocked him out of time."

"I didn\'t see you," said Bruce.

"All the same I was there all the time. I fetched the Countess Lalage in. As I entered I bought a copy of the Globe. The first thing that took my eye was the very strange advertisement inside by the theatrical notices."

Bruce glanced carelessly at the paragraph. Then his eye brightened. It ran as follows:

"Danger.--The danger lies in the second floor back bedroom of the corner house.--Z."

"Toujours the corner house," Bruce cried. "What do you ............