i64 AA'GLIXG SKETCHES 



looking at it when ^liss Breton and I saw )'ou, 

 and you didn't notice us. Does Thonnas know 

 zi'Iieu — I mean about what o'clock — the book was 

 first missed ? ' 



' That's the lucky part of the whole worry,' 

 said Allen. ' I left the rooms at three exacth', 

 and it "was missed about ten minutes to four ; 

 dozens of people must have handled it in that 

 interval of time. So interesting a book ! ' 



' But,' I said, and paused — ' are }-ou sure your 

 watch was right } ' 



' Quite certain ; besides, I looked at a church 

 clock. Why on earth do you ask ? ' 



'Because--! am awfulh- sorr)- — there is some 

 unlucky muddle ; but it was exactly a quarter, or 

 perhaps seventeen minutes, to four when both 

 Miss Breton and I saw you absorbed in the 

 Longepierre.' 



' Oh, it's quite impossible' Allen answered ; ' I 

 was far enough away from Blocksbj-'s at a quarter 

 to four.' 



' That's all right,' I said. ' Of course you can 

 prove that, if it is necessar\' ; though I dare say 



