first came here as one acquainted with the captain。 He had noted； I felt sure； the lack of intimacy between the captain and myself； once the former arrived from India。 He would no doubt testify that I had been most anxious to obtain lodgings in the same house with Fraser…Freer。 Then there was the matter of my letter from Archie。 I must keep that secret； I felt sure。 Lastly； there was not a living soul to back me up in my story of the quarrel that preceded the captain's death； of the man who escaped by way of the garden。
Alas； thought I； even the most stupid policeman can not fail to look upon me with the eye of suspicion！
In about twenty minutes three men arrived from Scotland Yard。 By that time I had worked myself up into a state of absurd nervousness。 I heard Walters let them in； heard them climb the stairs and walk about in the room overhead。 In a short time Walters knocked at my door and told me that Chief Inspector Bray desired to speak to me。 As I preceded the servant up the stairs I felt toward him as an accused murderer must feel toward the witness who has it in his power to swear his life away。
He was a big active man … Bray； blond as are so many Englishmen。 His every move spoke efficiency。 Trying to act as unconcerned as an innocent man should … but failing miserably； I fear … I related to him my story of the voices； the struggle； and the heavy man who had got by me in the hall and later climbed our gate。 He listened without comment。 At the end he said：
〃You were acquainted with the captain？〃
〃Slightly；〃 I told him。 Archie's letter kept popping into my mind； frightening me。 I had just met him … that is all； through a friend of his … Archibald Enwright was the name。〃
〃Is Enwright in London to vouch for you？〃
〃I'm afraid not。 I last heard of him in Interlaken。〃
〃Yes？ How did you happen to take rooms in this house？〃
〃The first time I called to see the captain he had not yet arrived from India。 I was looking for lodgings and I took a great fancy to the garden here。〃
It sounded silly； put like that。 I wasn't surprised that the inspector eyed me with scorn。 But I rather wished he hadn't。
Bray began to walk about the room； ignoring me。
〃White asters； scarab pin； Homburg hat；〃 he detailed； pausing before the table where those strange exhibits lay。
A constable came forward carrying newspapers in his hand。
〃What is it？〃 Bray asked。
〃The Daily Mail； sir；〃 said the constable。 〃The issues of July twenty…seventh； twenty…eighth； twenty…ninth and thirtieth。〃
Bray took the papers in his hand； glanced at them and tossed them contemptuously into a waste…basket。 He turned to Walters。
〃Sorry； sir；〃 said Walters； 〃but I was so taken aback！ Nothing like this has ever happened to me before。 I'll go at once … 〃
〃No；〃 replied Bray sharply。 〃Never mind。 I'll attend to it … 〃
There was a knock at the door。 Bray called 〃Come！〃 and a slender boy； frail but with a military bearing； entered。
〃Hello； Walters！〃 he said； smiling。 〃What's up？ I…〃
He stopped suddenly as his eyes fell upon the divan where Fraser…Freer lay。 In an instant he was at the dead man's side。
〃Stephen！〃 he cried in anguish。
〃Who are you？〃 demanded the inspector … rather rudely； I thought。
〃It's the captain's brother； sir；〃 put in Walters。 〃Lieutenant Norman Fraser…Freer； of the Royal Fusiliers。〃
There fell a silence。
〃A great calamity； sir … 〃 began Walters to the boy。
I have rarely seen any one so overcome as young Fraser…Freer。 Watching him； it seemed to me that the affection existing between him and the man on the divan must have been a beautiful thing。 He turned away from his brother at last； and Walters sought to give him some idea of what had happened。
〃You will pardon me； gentlemen；〃 said the lieutenant。 〃This has been a terrible shock！ I didn't dream； of course … I just dropped in for a word with … with him。 And now … 〃
We said nothing。 We let him apologize； as a true Englishman must； for his public display of emotion。
〃I'm sorry；〃 Bray remarked in a moment； his eyes still shifting about the room … 〃 especially as England may soon have great need of men like the captain。 Now； gentlemen； I want to say this： I am the Chief of the Special Branch at the Yard。 This is no ordinary murder。 For reasons I can not disclose … and； I may add； for the best interests of the empire … news of the captain's tragic death must be kept for the present out of the newspapers。 I mean； of course； the manner of his going。 A mere death notice； you understand … the inference being that it was a natural taking off。〃
〃I understand；〃 said the lieutenant； as one who knows more than he tells。
〃Thank you；〃 said Bray。 〃I shall leave you to attend to the matter； as far as your family is concerned。 You will take charge of the body。 As for the rest of you； I forbid you to mention this matter outside。〃
And now Bray stood looking； with a puzzled air； at me。
〃You are an American？〃 he said； and I judged he did not care for Americans。
〃I am；〃 I told him。
〃Know any one at your consulate？〃 he demanded。
Thank heaven； I did！ There is an under…secretary there named Watson … I went to college with him。 I mentioned him to Bray。
〃Very good；〃 said the inspector。 〃You are free to go。 But you must understand that you are an important witness in this case； and if you attempt to leave London you will be locked up。〃
So I came back to my rooms； horribly entangled in a mystery that is little to my liking。 I have been sitting here in my study for some time； going over it again and again。 There have been many footsteps on the stairs； many voices in the hall。
Waiting here for the dawn； I have come to be very sorry for the cold handsome captain。 After all； he was a man； his very tread on the floor above； which it shall never hear again； told me that。
What does it all mean？ Who was the man in the hall； the man who had argued so loudly； who had struck so surely with that queer Indian knife？ Where is the knife now？
And； above all； what do the white asters signify？ And the scarab scarf…pin？ And that absurd Homburg hat？
Lady of the Canton； you wanted mystery。 When I wrote that first letter to you； little did I dream that I should soon have it to give you in overwhelming measure。
And … believe me when I say it … through all this your face has been constantly before me … your face as I saw it that bright morning in the hotel breakfast room。 You have forgiven me； I know； for the manner in which I addressed you。 I had seen your eyes and the temptation was great … very great。
It is dawn in the garden now and London is beginning to stir。 So this time it is … good morning； my lady。
THE STRAWBERRY MAN。
CHAPTER IV
It is hardly necessary to intimate that this letter came as something of a shock to the young woman who received it。 For the rest of that day the many sights of London held little interest for her … so little； indeed； that her perspiring father began to see visions of his beloved Texas； and once hopefully suggested an early return home。 The coolness with which this idea was received plainly showed him that he was on the wrong track； so he sighed and sought solace at the bar。
That night the two from Texas attended His Majesty's Theater； where Bernard Shaw's latest play was being performed； and the witty Irishman would have been annoyed to see the scant attention one lovely young American in the audience gave his lines。 The American in question retired at midnight； with eager thoughts turned toward the morning。
And she was not disappointed。 When her maid； a stolid Englishwoman； appeared at her bedside early Saturday she carried a letter； which she handed over； with the turned…up nose of one who aids but does not approve。 Quickly the girl tore it open。
DEAR Texas LADY： I am writing this late in the afternoon。 The sun is casting long black shadows on the garden lawn； and the whole world is so bright and matter…of…fact I have to argue with myself to be convinced that the events of that tragic night through which I passed really happened。
The newspapers this morning helped to make it all seem a dream； not a line … not a word； that I can find。 When I think of America； and how by this time the reporters would be swarming through our house if this thing had happened over there； I am the more astonished。 But then； I know these English papers。 The great Joe Chamberlain died the other night at ten； and it was noon the next day when the first paper to carry the story appeared … screaming loudly that it had scored a beat。 It had。 Other lands； other methods。
It was probably not difficult for Bray to keep journalists such as these in the dark。 So their great ungainly sheets come out in total ignorance of a remarkable story in Adelphi Terrace。 Famished for real news； they begin to hint at a huge war cloud on the horizon。 Because tottering Austria has declared war on tiny Serbia； because the Kaiser is to…day hurrying； with his best dramatic effect； home to Berlin； they see all Europe shortly bathed in blood。 A nightmare born of torrid days and tossing nights！
But it is of the affair in A