"No," replied Random sharply. "I believe that the man who
assaulted Mrs. Jasher is hanging about, and ventured back into
the room, relying on the fog as a means of escape, should he be
spotted."
"But the man wouldn't be such a fool as to return into danger."
"Not unless he wanted something very badly," said Random
significantly.
Hope let the cigarette he was lighting fall.
"What do you mean?"
"I may be wrong, of course. But it is my impression that there
is something in the parlor which this man wants, and for which he
tried to murder Mrs. Jasher. We interrupted him, and he was
forced to flee. Hidden in the fog, he is lurking about to see if
he can't obtain what he has risked his neck to secure."
"What can it be?" murmured Archie, struck by the feasibility of
this theory.
"Perhaps the second emerald," remarked Sir Frank grimly.
"What! You don't think that--"
"I don't think anything. I am too tired to think at all.
However, Painter will keep his eyes open, and in the morning we
can search the room. The man has been in the house twice to get
what he wanted. He won't risk another attempt, now that he is
aware we are on the alert. I'm going to try and get forty winks.
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