Pagina 287 van 657

Both he and the Lascar stoutly swore that no one else had been in

the front room during the afternoon. So determined was their

denial that the inspector was staggered, and had almost come to

believe that Mrs. St. Clair had been deluded when, with a cry,

she sprang at a small deal box which lay upon the table and tore

the lid from it. Out there fell a cascade of children's bricks.

It was the toy which he had promised to bring home.