"
The Professor's manner betrayed some excitement.
"Then will you tell me this?" he demanded. "The young lady is confident
that she locked Craig up in the coach-house and that the key was on the
outside of the door, a fact which would prevent the lock being picked from
inside, even if such a thing were possible. The window is small, and up
almost in the roof. Will you tell me how Craig escaped from the
coach-house in order to carry out this abduction--all within a few
minutes, mind, of his having been left there? Will you tell me that, Mr.
Sanford Quest?" the Professor concluded, with a note of triumph in his
tone.
"That's one of the troubles we are up against," Quest admitted. "We have
to remember this, though. The brain that planned the two murders here,
that stole and restored Mrs. Rheinholdt's jewels, that sends us those
little billets-doux from time to time, is quite capable of finding a way
out of a jerry-built garage."
The Professor sniffed. He turned once more to Lenora.
"Young lady," he said, "I will ask you this. I do not wish to seem
obstinate in my refusal to accept Craig's guilt as proved, but I would
like to put this simple question to you. Did Craig's demeanour during your
conversation seem to you to indicate the master criminal? Did he seem to
you to be possessed of supreme courage, of marvellous intelligence?"
Lenora smiled very faintly.
"I am afraid," she replied, "that this time I'll have to satisfy the
Professor. He was white and trembling all the time.
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