But he was clumsy in getting hold of the basket and tipping it sideways, all its contents were spilled on to the ground.
“Dear me, dear me!” he exclaimed, “what a silly thing to do!”
Everyone at once jumped to gather up the roses, but the path was narrow and apart from Sir Charles, Dr. Athol was the only one able to assist in the picking up of the flowers. Inspector Stone, however, pounced upon the little brown paper packet of letters that had been flung on to a flower bed.
Out of the tail of her eye, Lady Mentone saw he had picked it up, but she made no comment, and with steady fingers arranged the roses in the basket, as they were handed up to her.
For a few seconds the Inspector held the little packet in his hand, with no interest, apparently, as to what its contents might be, but t
