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began to look like someone else。 The expression of the face； the
turn of the eyes； the lines about the mouth； began to suggest
someone whom Cleggett knew。 It was rather a suggestion； an
impression； than a likeness； it was rather the spirit of a
personality than a definite resemblance。 It was a psychic thing。
Barnstable was disguising himself from the inside out； he had
assumed the mental and spiritual clothing of someone else。
Cleggett could not think at first who it was that Wilton
Barnstable suggested。 But presently he saw that it was himself。
He glanced at Barton Ward and Watson Bard； they still resembled
the popular conception of Wilton Barnstable。
Gradually the look of Cleggett faded from Wilton Barnstable's
face。 It changed； it shifted； that look did； Cleggett almost
cried out as he saw the face of Wilton Barnstable become an
impressionistic portrait of the soul of Logan Black。 He looked
at Barton Ward。 Barton Ward was now looking like Wilton
Barnstable's conception of Cleggett。 But Watson Bard； less
facile and less creative； still clung stolidly to the popular
conception of Wilton Barnstable。
But； even as Cleggett looked； this remarkable exhibition ceased；
the Wilton Barnstable look dominated the faces again。 Plump； yet
dignified； smiling easily and kindly； three plain business men
looked at him； respectable citizens； commonplace citizens； a
little smug； faces that spoke of comfort； method； regularity；
eyes that seemed to wink with the pressure of platitudes in the
minds behind them； platitudes that desired to force their way to
the lips and out into the world。
Yes； such was the genius of Wilton Barnstable that he could at
will impose himself upon people as the apotheosis of the
commonplace。 He did it often。 It was almost second nature to
him now。 His urbane smile was the only visible sign of his own
enjoyment of this habitual feat。 He knew his own genius； and
smiled to think how easy it was to pass for an average man！
CHAPTER XXI
THE THIRD OBLONG BOX ARRIVES
〃I think；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； when Cleggett had finished；
〃that I may be able to clear up a few points for you。
〃The two men whom you saw me hazing up and down the bank of the
canal； and whom you saw again tonight； followed by the man in the
baby blue silk pajamas； were Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat！〃
〃The wretches！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
〃Wretches indeed；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； Barton Ward； and
Watson Bard； in unison； and with conviction。
〃And the man in the baby blue silk pajamas； was〃 the great
detective paused； as if to make his revelation more effective。
And while he paused； Miss Genevieve Pringle； with pursed lips and
averted face； signified that the very idea of introducing a man
in baby blue silk pajamas into the conversation was intensely
displeasing to her。
〃The man in pajamas was Reginald Maltravers；〃 finished the great
detective。
〃Reginald Maltravers！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
She opened her mouth again as if to say something more； but words
failed her； and she only stared at the detective； with parted
lips and round eyes。
Cleggett went to her and touched her on the arm； and with the
touch she gave a sob of emotion and found her tongue again。
〃Reginald Maltravers；〃 she said； 〃is not dead then！ Not dead
after all！〃
She endeavored to control herself； but for a moment or two she
trembled。 It was evident that it was all she could do to keep
from crying hysterically with relief。 The nightmare that had
haunted her for days had vanished almost too suddenly。 Presently
she began to be herself again。
〃You are sure that he is not dead？〃 she said with a voice that
still shook。
〃Sure；〃 said Wilton Barnstable。
And as if quietly satisfied with the sensation they had produced；
the three detectives smiled at each other urbanely and
contentedly。 Barnstable continued：
〃Reginald Maltravers came to my agency some days ago and
requested a bodyguard。 Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat had attacked
him； no doubt intending to earn the money which Elmer had
promised them。 He beat them off。 In fact； he caned them
soundly。 But they still continued to dog him。
〃Mr。 Ward here； who handled the case； soon reported to me that he
believed Reginald Maltravers to be insane。〃
〃Insane he was；〃 cried Lady Agatha。 〃I have seen the light of
insanity in his eye； gleaming through his accursed monocle。〃 She
spoke with vehemence。 Now that she knew the man to be alive； her
hatred of him had flared up again。
〃Insane he was；〃 agreed Wilton Barnstable。 〃And shortly after
that discovery was made； he disappeared。 The next day after his
disappearance； Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat were liberally
supplied with money。
〃Of course they got the money； Lady Agatha； through the clever
trick they worked upon you。〃
〃A great many people have got money from me since I have been in
America；〃 said Lady Agatha。
〃Ah！ Yes？〃 The great detective went on with his masterly summing
up。 〃Of course they got the money from the trick they worked on
Lady Agatha。 But at the time I thought it possible that they had
robbed Reginald Maltravers and then put him out of the way。 They
are well…known gunmen。
〃I took them into custody and determined to hold them until such
time as Reginald Maltravers would be found； or his fate
discovered。 Eventually I brought them with me on my house boat。
I was really holding them without due legal warrant； but I am
forced to do that； sometimes。 They complained of lack of
exercise； so I gave them exercise in the manner which you saw the
other morning； Mr。 Cleggett。
〃One of my agents； shortly after this； picked up the trail of
Reginald Maltravers again。 When I learned that he was alive my
first impulse was to release Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat。 But I
learned that the two gunmen could； if they would； give me a tip
as to certain of the activities of Logan Black； against whom I
have been collecting evidence for nearly a year。 So I kept them
on my boat。
〃Reginald Maltravers； most of the time that you were riding about
the country； Lady Agatha； with the box that you thought contained
him； was really following you。 He would lose your trail and find
it again； but he was always some hours behind you。 Of course； he
knew nothing of the oblong box。 He thought that you were running
away from him。 And all the time that Reginald Maltravers was
following you； agents of mine were following Reginald
Maltravers。〃
〃Lady Agatha；〃 interrupted Cleggett； 〃was also being pursued by
Miss Pringle here。〃
Wilton Barnstable carefully made a note in a little book which he
drew from his waistcoat pocket。 Barton Ward also made a note in
a little book； Watson Bard started to make a note； and then
paused； in fact； Watson Bard did not complete his note until he
had gotten a peep into the notebook of Barton Ward。 The notes