The servants,

　　Such was the problem which my visitor laid before me. Itpresented, as the astute reader will have already perceived, fewdifficulties in its solution, for a very limited choice ofalternatives must get to the root of the matter. Still, elementaryas it was, there were points of interest and novelty about it whichmay excuse my placing it upon record. I now proceeded, using myfamiliar method of logical analysis, to narrow down the possiblesolutions.

　　"The servants," I asked; "how many were in the house?"

　　"To the best of my belief there were only the old butler and hiswife. They seemed to live in the simplest fashion."

　　"There was no servant, then, in the detached house?"

　　"None, unless the little man with the beard acted as such. Heseemed, however, to be quite a superior person."

　　"That seems very suggestive. Had you any indication that food wasconveyed from the one house to the other?"

　　"Now that you mention it, I did see old Ralph carrying a basket downthe garden walk and going in the direction of this house. The ideaof food did not occur to me at the moment."

　　"Did you make any local inquiries?"

　　"Yes, I did. I spoke to the station-master and also to the innkeeperin the village. I simply asked if they knew anything of my oldcomrade, Godfrey Emsworth. Both of them assured me that he had gonefor a voyage round the world. He had come home and then had almostat once started off again. The story was evidently universallyaccepted."

　　"You said nothing of your suspicions?"

　　"Nothing."