"
Nevertheless, I had forgotten that I was hungry in the excitement
which now claimed me. For although the thread upon which these
seemingly disconnected things hung was invisible to me, I
recognized that Bampton, the city clerk, the bearded stranger who
had made so singular a proposition to him, the white-hatted
major, the dead stockbroker, and the mysterious woman whose
presence in the case the clear sight of Harley had promptly
detected, all were linked together by some subtle chain. I was
convinced, too, that my friend held at least one end of that
chain in his grip.
"In order to prepare your mind for the interview which I hope to
obtain this evening," continued Harley, "let me enlighten you
upon one or two points which may seem obscure. In the first
place you recognize that anyone leaning out of the window on the
second floor would almost automatically rest his weight upon the
iron bar which was placed there for that very purpose, since the
ledge is unusually low?"
"Quite," I replied, "and it also follows that if the bar gave way
anyone thus leaning on it would be pitched into the street."
"Your reasoning is correct."
"But, my dear fellow," said I, "how could such an accident have
been foreseen?"
"You speak of an accident.
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