Once she asked me 'How she came to my home that night?'

   'You came

    out of

   the whirling snow, and

    in

   a high state of delirium,' I answered, epigrammatically.

   'I thought I came on foot,' she replied, dreamily.

   'But, Basil,' she went on, 'what afterwards? What's the next move, my noble sportsman?'

   What, indeed! Philippa had me there.

   Clearly it was time to move.

   In order to avert suspicion, I thought it was better not to shut up my house.

   For the same purpose, I did a little in crime on my own account.

   A man tires of only being an accessory.

   William, the Sphynx, obviously 'was in the know,' as sporting characters say. Was in the know of what was in the snow! I must silence William.

   I took my measures quietly.

   First I laid in two dozen of very curious pale sherry at half-a-crown.

   I bought each bottle at a separate shop in a different disguise (making twenty-four in all), that my proceedings might not attract attention.

   I laid down the deadly fluid with all proper caution in the cellar.

   At parting from William I gave him five shillings and the cellar key, telling him to be very careful, and await my instructions.

   I knew well that long before my 'instructions' could reach him, the faithful 

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