human
Well, then! Maillard yesterday received a note from the Masquer, brazenly stating that he intended to call during the evening. I have that note. It was written with an extremely hard lead pencil, such as few men carry, because it does not easily make very legible writing. Last night I asked Mr. X. for a pencil, and he produced one with an extra hard lead--mentioning that he had borrowed it from Bob Maillard, as indeed he had.
gpt
What! Surely, you don't mean----
human
Of course I don't. Mr. X. is very clever, that's all. Here is what took place last night. Mr. X. brought us another note from the Masquer, saying that he had found it pinned to the library door. As a matter of fact, he had written it on a leaf torn from his notebook. I took the note from him, observing at the time that the paper had no pin holes. Probably, Mr. X. saw that there was something amiss; he presently went back downstairs, took the remainder of the torn leaf from his notebook, and pinned it to the door. A little later, I met him and mentioned the lack of pin holes; he calmly referred me to the piece on the door, saying that he had merely torn off the note without removing the pins. You follow me?
gpt
Of course, murmured the girl, her eyes wide in fascinated interest.
human
And he knew that you guessed him to be the Masquer?
gpt
He suspected me, I think, said Fell, mildly.
human
It is understood that you will not go about tracing these little clues? I do not wish to disclose his identity, even to your very discreet brain----
gpt
Don't be silly, Uncle Jachin! she broke in.
human
You know I'll do nothing of the sort. Go on, please! Did you find the airplane?