They went out and left them alone, two people who found in thismoment a heaven which is not beyond the reach of humanity, butwhich is seldom attained to. Belinda Mary had an eager audienceall to her very self.

　　"Of course she didn't die," she said scornfully. "Kara wasplaying on his fears all the time. He never even harmed her - inthe way Mr. Lexman feared. He told Mrs. Lexman that her husbandwas dead just as he told John Lexman his wife was gone. Whathappened was that he brought her back to England - ""Who?" asked T. X., incredulously.

　　"Grace Lexman," said the girl, with a smile. "You wouldn't thinkit possible, but when you realize that he had a yacht of his ownand that he could travel up from whatever landing place he choseto his house in Cadogan Square by motorcar and that he could takeher straight away into his cellar without disturbing hishousehold, you'll understand that the only difficulty he had wasin landing her. It was in the lower cellar that I found her.""You found her in the cellar?" demanded the Chief Commissioner.

　　The girl nodded.

　　"I found her and the dog - you heard how Kara terrified her - andI killed the dog with my own hands," she said a little proudly,and then shivered. "It was very beastly," she admitted.

　　"And she's been living with you all this time and you've saidnothing!" asked T. X., incredulously. Belinda Mary nodded.

　　"And that is why you didn't want me to know where you wereliving?" She nodded again.

　　"You see she was very ill," she said, "and I had to nurse her up,and of course I knew that it was Lexman who had killed Kara and Icouldn't tell you about Grace Lexman without betraying him. Sowhen Mr. Lexman decided to tell his story, I thought I'd bettersupply the grand de denouement."The men looked at one another.

　　"What are you going to do about Lexman?" asked the ChiefCommissioner, "and, by the way, T. X., how does all this fit yourtheories!""Fairly well," replied T. X. coolly; "obviously the man whocommitted the murder was the man introduced into the room asGathercole and as obviously it was not Gathercole, although to allappearance, he had lost his left arm.""Why obvious?" asked the Chief Commissioner.

　　"Because," answered T. X. Meredith, "the real Gathercole had losthis right arm - that was the one error Lexman made.""H'm," the Chief pulled at his moustache and looked enquiringlyround the room, "we have to make up our minds very quickly aboutLexman," he said. "What do you think, Carlneau?"The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders.

　　"For my part I should not only importune your Home Secretary topardon him, but I should recommend him for a pension," he saidflippantly.

　　"What do you think, Savorsky?"The Russian smiled a little.

　　"It is a very ............