Hatch didn't have any very definite idea as to just what he could do, so he let him go on."As I understand it, Mr de Lesseps,"he interrupted at last,"no one else was in the room, except you and Mr Kale, all the time you were there?"
"No one else."
"And I think Mr Kale said that you were making a copy of some famous water color, weren't you?"
"Yes, a Thames scene, by Whistler,"was the reply."That is it, hanging over the mantel."
Hatch glanced at the picture admiringly. It was an exquisite copy, and showed the deft touch of a man who was himself an artist of great ability.
De Lesseps read the admiration in his face."It is not bad,"he said modestly."I studied with Carolus Duran."
With all else that was known, and this little additional information, which seemed of no particular value to the reporter, the entire matter was laid before The Thinking Machine. That distinguished man listened from beginning to end without comment.
"Who had access to the room?"he asked finally.
"That is what the police are working on now,"was the reply."There are a couple of dozen servants in the house, and I suppose, in spite of Kale's rigid orders, there was a certain laxity in their enforcement."
"Of course that makes it more difficult,"said The Thinking Machine in the perpetually irritated voice which was so distinctly a part of himself."Perhaps it would be best for us to go to Mr Kale's home and personally investigate."
Kale received them with the reserve which all rich men show in the presence of representatives of the press. He stared frankly and somewhat curiously at the diminutive figure of the scientist, who explained the object of their visit.
"I guess you fellows can't do anything with this,"the millionaire assured them."I've got some regular detectives on it."