NUMBER 17: A Mystery of London.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 156, 1 July 1916, Page 20

NUMBER 17: A Mystery of London.

By LOUIS TRACY.

'£uikor of "Raiiiio-J} Island," , "The Pillar of Light," "One Wonderful Niffht," "The Term* of Surrender; , "The Uo-mc of Storm; , -There Was -Vo Other Way," etc, etc.,

STXorsis or pkevious chaptetu*., CHAPTER I.—Fnms Tbeyoou. au : author of some repuie. from! the maiii tiii of Italy's Tbeatri. in London, ■»-!icd be is struck by li-e a|ipe.-.r:mr-e ol a flue elderly looking u;au. nlio i> eSt-ortins , a beauiifu! young womau. Frank over-i lit addresses as "Eveiyu," that lie ujusl' iook in at the Constitutional Cu"u. Later ! Theydon* taxi is turning [he comer of' jiiiite>more when he perceive* I lean whom he had uotieed leaving tiu*' •theatre. He is greatly surpriseG, v the . CuEslitotiona; Clul) lies ih an opposite. riire.TK'ij. Later he hears the man au- [ milled to Lhc nest flat to hie. ti-dicd is J i:ma»ited by a good looking lady Lamed , , Mr- Ltster. The next day Thcj-don, re-! laming: from an engagement at Brook-! lands, j> met at the tuition by bis va!et,! ''ales, and two other men. who are mtro- ! dm-ed as Chief Delertive Winter asa i>v-\ te'-tiro Inspector Furneaux. tells iiiuj that Mt= Lester ha.- been mamered. | iiixi then makes an apiKfl&lineni for II » o'rjork that nicL* at Tlieydon's :iat. Later I Thejdon sots to keep a dinner engagement nt Kcrtefue Sqnaxe with .lames "Teifjnton Fortes. miiiioDaire and iibi.authropist. On wh.->m be as the one he had | "feard addressed as ""ICTelyn" l.v iier father Uie previous niebt at Theatre. The rrrfcriusion is for.-cd upoa T-eTu'on Ibst Mrs visitor of the nmt before was James ("Teighton Forlies. •"■HAPTEI! 11.- -Theydoa is so startleJ st the si?h! of Evelyn Forbes taat he kno"ks a ciisir over. He recovers, however, from his embarrassment ana Cn<ls her charming. After dinner during a conversation he tells Mr Forbes of tbe murder of Mrs Lester. ;ind the latter Is mucb j'tartlfd. He extracts a promise from know the result of bis' talk w:ta the! detective*. | rHAI'TER lII.—On leaving the Forces" ; inaDPion Fraal; notices a grey limousine ear drawn up on tbe other side uf the road. He is struck by tbe fact that the same car was outside Waterloo Station. Later he notices it following his taxi. During <onJ?e srives a description of Mr Forbes to tbe i deto<-tiTes. Fnrueaux suggests they should a;rain examine Mrs Lester's rooms, aud I They they proceed to do. CHAPTER IV.—Whilst examining Mrs , Lester's rooms Frank norice= a peculiar i smell, which Furneaux describes as the smell of a bcriit joss stick. Forbes rings Tbeydoc up. and 'Furceaax listens at ttit letter-box. Later Winter shows Frank ai ivory skull, which has been found on the body of Mrs Lester. CHAPTER V. A LEAP IS THE DAT.=. With the morning Theydon urougiit a mature and impartial judgment to bear on his perplexities. The average man, if a--kedto form an opinion on any dilbcuL point, will probably arrive at a taner decision during tke first pipe after breakfast than at any other given hour ol tne day. Excellent physiological reasons account for this truism. The sound mmJ in a sound body ie then working under the most favourable conditions. I*.,'° free from the strain oi allairs. l«c coid. clear morning light divests problems of the undue importance, or. it may be. the glamour of novelcy. which they possessed overnight. At any rate. Frank Theydon. clenching a pipe _ between his teeth, and gazing thoughtfully througe an open window at tlfe*treea in Innesmore Garden*, reviewed yesterday's happenings calmly and crit.cally. and arrived at'thc settled conviction that his proper course was to visit Scotland Yard and make known to tbe authorities the one vital fact he had withheld from their ken t!ius far.

It was not for him to as.-ess the significance of Mr. Forbes" desire to remain in the background. If the millionaire's or explanation, of hi? failure to communicate at once with the Criminal Investigation Department was a sufficiently valid one. Scotland Yard vrould be satisfied, and might agree to keep his name out of the inquiry. ''In the other hand. he. Tiieydon, migiit be taulking tbe course of justice by holding hip tongue. There was yet a third possibility, one fraught with personal discredit. Mr. Forbes himself might realise that a poliqy of candour offered the only dignified course. he was minded to tell the detective? that Tr.r was the man v.iio visited Mrs. Lester shortly before midnight, vfhat would Winter and Furneaux think of tbe young gentleman who had actually Hined with Forbes before they took him into their confidence—v.'ho heard with such righteous indignation how Mrs. Lester met her death—yet brazenly concealed the fact that he had just left the ihouse of one whom they were so anxious to meet and question?

Of course, the radiant vision of Evelyn Forbes intruded on this well-con-sidered and unemotional analyst; but Theydon resolutely shook his head.

"No, by Jove!"' he communed. " You nvusft make- an ass of yourself, my boy. because a pretty girl was gracious for an hour or so. Be hone?t with your-H-lf. old chap! If there was no Evelyn. or if Evelyn was hare-lipped, -n'* fq - jinted. you wouldn't hesitate a second —now. would you?"

Yrt bo had given a promise. How reconcile an immediate call or, Scotland Yard with the guarantee of secrecy «!>•• mandnd by Forbes? Well, lie must put himself right with Forbes without di-lny —tell him straightforwardly tbat the bond could not hold. Theydon was no lawyer, but was assured that an agreement founded on positive wrong was not tenable, legally or morally. He would be adamant with Forbes, and decline to countenance any plea in support of continued silence. If Forbes" demand was reasonable. Scotland Yard ■would grant it. If justice compeli?<l Forbes to com,' out into the open, no private citizen should attempt to defeat the end? of justice.

"So that settles it." announced Theydon. firmly if not cheerfully. "I'll ring up Forbes, and get the tiling over and fioni- with. I'll never see his daughter a.;ain. I suppose, but that can't be helped. 'Ti= better to have seen and lost than never to have seen at all."

He turned from thp irmdow. -.Talked ~+o- the firepiacp. tapped his pipe firmly on the and was about to .co into the hall and call up the telephone fiichanjre. xrben the door bell He ■nras aware of a mufOed conrerration bettreen Bates and a visitor. Then tae valet appeared, obviously ill at ease.

"If yon please, sir." fir amionTiced. ''a lady, a Miss Beale. of Oxford, who says she is Mrs. Lester's aunt, wishes to sec TOU."

Theydon was immensely surprised, as ■well he be But there "was only onn thing to be done. "Siotv lier in." he said. ,

Miss Bcale entered. She -was slight of fipure, nriddJe-aged, .and grey-haired. The •wanness of her thin features was accentnateu by an attire of deep mourning, but the pallor in her checks fled for an instant when she-set eyes on Theydoß. "Pray forgifo the intrusion,* 1 ehe faltered. «g;-=I- dd^r

It wa- a curious utterance, and Thereon triiNl to relieve her evident nervousness by being mildly humorous. "J hope to correct my juvenile appearance in course of time, -, he said, smiling. "Meanwhile, won't you be seated? You are not quite unknown to mc. Miss Beale. That is—f ieard of you last night from the .Scotland Yard people."' She sat down at once, but seemed to !e at a loss for words. Her lips trembled, and Theydon thought she was going to cry. "Have you travelled from Oxford this morning?" he said, simulating a courteous nonchalance he was far from feeling. "If so. you must have started from home at an ungodly, hour. Let mc have some breakfast prepared for you.' , "Xo—no." elie stammered. "Well, a cup of tea. then? Come. now. no woman ever refuses a cup of tea." "Yon arc very kind."' , He ran;; the bplL i "1 would not have ventured to call on you if I had not seen your name in the newspaper." -he went on. Miss Bealu certainly had the knack of I saying unexpected things. Jt was noj thing new that Thpydon should find his own name in print, but on this occasion he could no; choose but associate the distinction with the crime in Number 17; that ho should be mentioned in connection with it was neither anticipated nor I pleasing. At the same time be realised i the astounding fact that ho had not even ! glanced at a newspaper during twentyj four hours. "What in the world have the newspapers to say about me?"' he cried. ""It—it said—that Mr. Francis Berrold Theydon. the well-known author. Jived in No. IS. the flat exactly opposite that I which my unhappy niece occupied. I—l I have read some of your book*, Mr. Theydon. and I pictured you quite a seriouslooking person of my own age." He laughe-i. Bates entered, and was almost shocked at nnding his muster in : such lively mood.

"Oh. this lady has travelled from Oxlord this morning; a cup of tea and some nice toast, please. Bates," said Theydon. Then, when the two were alone together again, he brushed aside the question of his age as irrelevant.

"I assure you that since this time yesterday I have lost some of the careless buoyancy of youth." he eaid. "I had not the honour of llrs. Lester's acquaintance, but I knew her well by sight, and I received the shock of my life last evening when 1 heard of her terrible end. It is an extraordinary thing, seeing that we were such close neighbours, but I believe you got the news long before I did. because I left home early, and heard nothing of what had happened till my man met mc at "Waterloo in the evening." "io'.i have seen the—tie detectives in the meantime'•"

"Then you wfll be able to tell mc something definite. I have promised to call at Scotland Yard at eleven o'clock, and the only scraps of intelligence I have gathered are those i n the papers. I would have come to London last night, but was afraid to travel, lest 1 should faint in the train. Moreover, someone in London promised to send a detective to see mc. He came, but could give mc no information. Indeed, he wanted to learn certain things from mc. So, after a -weary night. I caught the first train, and it occurred to mc. a≤ you lived so near, that you might be kind enough to—to "' The long speech was too miKu for her. and her lips quivered pitifully a second time.

"1 fully understand.' , saH Theydon, sympathetically. "Xow. T m positive you have eaten hardly anything to-day. Won't you let mc order an eg;?" 'Xo. please. I'll be glad of the tea, hut I cannot make a meal—yet. Is it tTue that my niece was absolutely alone in her flat en Monday night !" Seeing that Miss Beale was consumed with ansiety to hear an intelligible version of the tragedy, Theydon at once recithl all. or nearly all, that was known to him. The only points he suppressed were those with reference to the grey car and the ivory skulL The lady listened attentively, and with more* selfcontrol than he gave her credit for. Bates c-ame in with a laden tray. on which a boiled ecg appeared. Mrs." Bates had used her discretion, and decided that anyone who had set out from Oxford so early in the day must be in need of more solid refreshment than tea and toast. Thus cozened, as it were, into eating. Jli=3 Beale tackled the egg. and Theydon was glad to note that she made a fairly good meal, being probably unaware of her hunger until the means of sating it presetted itself. But she missed no -word of his storyj and, when he made an end, put some shrewd questions. "I take it." she said, "that the strange eenticman who visited my niece on Monday night, posted the very letter which I received by the second delivery yesterday ?" '"Tl.at is what the police believe," replied Tbcydon. ... "Then it would seem that she resolved to come to mc at Ifflgy a≤ the result of something he told her?" "Why do,you think that?" "Because I heard from her only last Saturday, and she not only said nothing about coming to Oxfordshire, but asked mc to arrange to spend a fortnight in London before we both went to Cornwall for the summer." "Ah. That is rather important, I should imagine," said Theydon thoughtfully. "It is odd, too, that you and the detectives should have noticed the Emell of a joss stick in the flat," went on Miss Beale. "Edith—my niece, you know— could not bear the smell of joss sticks. They reminded her of Shanghai, where she iost her husband." Theydon looked more 6tartled than such a seemingly simple statement warranted. He had realised already that the ivory 6kull -was the work'of an artist, and the mention of Shanghai brought that sinister symbol very vividly to his mind's eye "Mrs. Lester had lived in China, then ?" he said. "Yes. She -was out there nearly sir yeare. Her husband died suddenly last October—he -was poisoned, she firmly believed —and, of course, she came hom<s at once." "What -was Mr. Lester's business, or profession?" "Hβ "was a barrister. I do not mean that he practised in the Consular courts. He "was making his "way in England, but ■nras ottered some eort of appointment in Shanghai. Tns._Eafc- wu . go-lucrative

that he relinquished a growing coauection at the bar. I have never really understood what he did. I fancy he had to report on commercial matters' to some n'rm of bankers in London, but he supJihed very little positive information; before Edith and he sailed. Indeed. I 1100-k it that his mission was highly confidential, and about that time, there wills a lot in the newspapers about rival negotiators for a big Chinese loan, so 1 formed the opinion thai he was sent out in connection with something of the sort. Neither ho nor Edith meant to remain long in the far East. At first, {heir letters always spoke of an early reiurn. Then, when the years dragged on. ajnd 1 asked for definite news of their btomecoming, Edith said that Arthur could not pet away until the country's political affaire were in a more settled state. Finally fcame a cablegram from Edith: "Arthur dead, sailing immediately,' and my niefe was with mc within a fewweeks. The supposed cause of her husband's death was some virnlent type of fever, but. as I said, Edith was convinced that he had been poisoned."' "Why?" '"That I never understood. She never willingly talked about Shanghai, or her life there. Indeed, ehe was always most anxious that no one should know she had ever lived in China. Yet she had plenty of friends out there. 1 gathered that Arthur had left her well provided for financially, and they were a most devoted couple. Edith was the on)y relative I possessed. It is very dreadful, Mr. Theydon, that she should be taken from mc in such a way."

Her hearer was almost thankful that she yielded to the inevitable rush of emotion. It gave him time to collect his wit?, which had lost their poise "when that wicked-looking, little skull was. so to speak, thrust forcibly into his recollectk'n.

"In a word." he said, at last, "you arc Mrs. Lester's nest of kin, and probably her heiress?"

"Yes. I suppose so, though I was not thinking of that." came the tearful answer.

"Yet the relationship entails certain responsibilities." said Theydon firmly. "You should be legally represented at tie inquest. Are your affairs in the hands of any firm of solicitorsV

"Yes —at Oxford. I contrived to tall at their office yesterday, and they recommended mc to consult these people," *nd Miss Beale produced a card from a handbag. Theydon read the name and address of a well-known ivcst-end firm.

"Good," he said. "I recommend you to go there at once. By the way, "was anyone looking after Mrs. Lesteir's interest?? Surely she had dealings 'with a bank, or an agency ?"

T—yet I do happen to know the source from which her income catne. Shi —made a secret of it—in a measure."

"Pra.v don't tell mo anything of thai sort. Your legal advfeer might not approve." "But what doe? it matter now! Tor , ? Edith is dead. Her affairs cannot help being dragged into the light of day. had some railway shares and bonds, four of whicfl were left to her by her father, and othen? which came under a marriage settlement, but the greater part of her revenue was derived from a monthly payment made by the bank of which Mr. •James Oreighton Forbes is the head."

Miss Beale naturally misinterpreti-d the blank gtare with which Theydon received this remaTkabre statement. "I don't 6ee why wish to conceal a simple matter of like that.' , 6bc eaid nervously, "May I explain that I have an impression, not founded on anything quite tangible, thiit Mr. Forbes wae largely interested in the syndicate which cent Arthur iLester to China, so it is very likely tha,t the payment of an annuity, or pension, to Arthur's widow would be left iin his care, I do not know. I am onlyj guessing, but that matter, and others, (can hardly fail to be cleared up by the jpolice inquiry. ■' I

Theydon recovered his t-ph'j-contro! as rapidly as he had lost it. He! glanced at tbe clock —ten fifteen. Within half an hour, or less. Mise Bealc woulji be on her way to Scotland Yard. He \ must act promptly and decisively, or hi, , would find himself in a distinctly unfavourable position in his relations with the Criminal Investigation Department

"I happen to be acquainted with Mr. Forbee," he said, striving desperately to appear cool and methodical; when hi* brain was seething. "Would you mind if I just rang him up on tbi; telephone: A few words now might ealighten us materially." ;

"Oh. you are most helpful." said thi? lady, blushing again with timid gratitude. "I am so glad I summoned up courage to call on you. I v,-as tcrrrified at the idea of going to the police headquarters, but I shall not mind it at all now."

Soon Theydon wae asking for "00400, Bank." He had left -tbe door of hie sit-ting-room open purposely. Xo matter what tie outcome, he no longer dared keep tbe outcome of silence into which lie had entered with Forbes. But the n'illionairc was not at hie office. In response to a very determined request for a word v-ith someone in authority. - 'on a matter of real urgency/ the clerk who had answered the ca!l brought "Mr. Forbes' secretary,' , a Mit. Macdonald. to the telephone. "It is important, vitaily important, that I should speak with Mr. Forbi* vrithin the next few minutes/ said Theydon. after giving bis name and addrees. "Do you expert him to arrhe soon? Oh shall I try and reach him at Forteseue Square?" -'Mr. Forbes will not be here til midday,"' came a voice, witii a pronounced Scottish intonation. 'Tm donbtfuJ, too. if yell catch him at home. Can I give him a message i" "Do you know where he is?" "Well, I cannot cay." "But do you know?" "I'll be glad to give 'him a message." '"It will be too late, then. Please undeißtani, Mr. MacdonaJd. that I am leaking this call at Mr. Forbes' express wish. It is, as I have eaid, vitally important that I 6hould get in touch with him without delay." Scottish caution was not to be overcome with an appeal of that sort. "1 can't go beyond what I have eaid." was the reply. "If you like to ask at his. house " "Oh, ring off!" cried Theydon. who pictured the secretary, as a lanky. tollow-oheeked Scot, a model of discretion and trustworthiness, no doubt, but utterly unequal to a crfeis demanding seme measure of self-confident initiative. In reality, Mr. Macdonald ■fas short and 6tout. and quite a jovial little man. After an exasperating delay, he got into communication with the Forbes mansion in Forteseue Square. 'Tm Mr. Frank Theydon," he saki, striving to speak unconcernedly. "'is Mr. Forbes in?" "No. sir." "Iβ that you. Tomlinson?" "Yee, sir?" "Can you tell mc where I can find Mr. Forbes at once. "lent 4e at hie office, sirf" "No. He Tfrill not be there tffl twelve o'clock." :,'

A pause of indecision on Tomlinson'i part. Then, a possible solution of the difficulty. "Woald you care to have a word with Miss Evelyn, sir?' , "O!i, yes, res." Tiieydon blurted out this emphatic acceptance of the butler's suggestion without a thought as to its possible consequences. He was racking bis brain in a frenzy of uncertainty as to how he should frame his words when he heard quite clearly a woman's footsteps on the parquet llooring. and caught .Evelyn Forbes' voice caving to Tomlinsou:— "How fortunate! Mr. Theydon i= the very person 1 wished to speak to, but 1 simply dared not ring him up." Evidently, {he butk-r had placed the receiver on its ledge in *uch wise that the pressure of the spring was not relaxed. The slight incident only provided Theydon with a new source" of wonderment. Why should Evelyn Forbes want speech with him at that early hour? Perhaps she would explain. He could only- hope co, and trust to luck in the choice of his own phrases. "That you, Mr. Theydon?" came the girl's voice, sweet in its cadence vet curiously eager. "How nice of you to anticipate my unspoken thougnt! 1 have been horribly anxious ever since I read of that awful affair at Innesmore Mansions. The poor lady flat i≤ nest door to youis, is it not?" "Yes. but -" "Oh, you cannot choke off a woman's curiosity quite so easily. You see. I happen to know that Mrs. Lester's sad death affects niv father in some way, and I realise now that you two were just on pins and needles to get rid of mc last I night so that you might talk freely." "Miss Forbr-s. 1 aesure you "' "Wait till I've finished, and you will not be under the necessity of telling mc any polite fib?. You men aie all alike. You think the giddy feminine brabi i= not fitted to cope with mysteries, and that is where you are utterly mistaken. A woman's intuition often peers deeper than a man's logic. 1 " "Do forgive mc." broke in Theydon despairingly, "but I am really most anxious to know how and where I can get a word with your father. I would not be so rude as to interrupt you if I hadn't the best of excuses. Tell mc where to find him now. and I promise to give you a call immediately afterwards." "He's at the Home Office." "At the Home Office!" Some hint of utter bewilderment in Theydon's tone must have reached the girl's alert ear. "Ah! Touche!" she cried. "Kow will you be good, and tell mc why dad should receive a little ivory skull by this morning's post!" Theydon knew that he paled. His very scalp tingled with an apprehension oi some shadowy yet none the less affrighting evil. But he schooled himself to say with a semblance of calm interest: — "What exactly do you mean. Miss Forbes?" She lausbed lightly. Theydon was co flurried that he did not realise the possibility of Evelyn Forbes being as anxious to mask her real feelings as he I himself was. ""Dad and I make a point of breakfar-t-I ing together at nine o'clock even , morning," she said. "We were talkinjr about you. and he told mc of the dreadful thin;; that happened to Mis. Lester. I was reading the account of the tragedy in a newspaper, when I happened to glance at him. He was going through his letter*, and 1 was just a tri3e curious to know what was in a flat box which came by registered post. lie opened it carelessly, and something fell out and rolled across I the table. ] picked it up. and saw that it was a small piece of ivory, carved with extraordinary skill to represent a skull. Indeed, it was so cievcr as to be decidedly repulsive. I was going to say something -nhen I saw that the letter which was in the same box had alarmed him so greatly that, for a second or two. 1 thought he would faint. But he can be very strong and stern at times, and he recovered himself instantly, was quite vexed with mc because 1 had examined the ivory skull, and forbade my going out until he had returned from the Home Office. Tomlinson and the other men hare orders not to admit anyone to the house, no matter on what pretext, and I'm sure the letter and its nasty little token are bound up in some way

with Mrs. Lesttr's death. Won't you let mc into the secret? I shan't scream, or do anything foolish, but I do think I am entitled to know what you know if it affects my father." A sudden change in the girl's vo:ce warned Thc-ydon of a restraint of which he had been unconscious hitherto. He tried to temporise, to whittle away her fears. That was a duty he owed to "Forbes, who was dearly resolved not to take his daughter into his confidence — for the present, at any rate. "I really fail to see why you should assume sc;ne connection between the crime which was committed here on Monda, , . night and the arrival of a somewhat singular package at your house this morning.' , he edid reassuringly. '"Like every otiier woman. 1 jump at conclusion?," she answered. "'VVby should this crime, in particular.'have worried my lather? Unfortunately, the newspapers are full of such horrid things, yet he hardly ever pays them any attention. No, Mr. Theydon. I am not mistaken. He either knew Mrs. Lester, and was shocked at her death, or saw in it tome personal menace. Then comes the letter, with its obvious threat, and I am ordered to remain at home, under a strong guard, while he hurries off to Whitehall. You have rret my father. Mr. Theydon. Do you regard him as the sort of man who would rush off in a panic to consult the Home Secretary without very grave and weighty reasons':" " Hut you can hardly be certain that a wretched crime in this comparatively insignificant quarter of London supplies the actual motive of Mr. Forbes' .action,'-' urged Theydon. The girl stamped an impatient foot. He heard it distinctly. " Of course. 1 am certain." she cried. ••Why won't you be candid? You know I am ri^ht —I can tell it from your very vois'''. and your guarded way of talking An inspiration came to Theydon's relief in that instant. " Pardon the interruption." he sari, "but I must point out that both of us arc arting unwisely in discusing sucn matters over the telephone. Really, neither must say another word, except this—when 1 have found your father. I'll ask his permission to come and see you. Perhaps we three can arrange to meet somewhere for luncheon. That is absolutely the farthest limit to which I dare go a.t this moment." '"Oh, very well!" The receiver was hung up in a temper, and the prompt ring-off jarred disagreeably in Theydon's ear. If he was puzzled before he was thoroughly at ses. now. But ho took a bold course, and cared not a jot whether or not it was a prudent one. The mere sound of Evelyn Forbes' voice had steeled his heart and conscience against the dictates of com-mon-sense. Let the detectives think what they might, the girl's father must be allowed to carry through his plans without let or hindrance. " Miss Beale." said Theydon. gazing Sxedly into the sorrow-laden eyes of the quiet little lady whom he found seated where he had left her. '" I'm going to tell

you something very important, very serious, something eo'far-reaching and momentous that neither you nor I can measure its effect. You heard the conversation on the telephone?

■" I heard what you wete saying, but could not understand much of it/ said his visitor in a scared way.

" I have been trying to communicate with Jix. Forbes, but his daughter tells mc that the murder of your niece seems to have affected him in a manner which is incomprehensible to her, and even more so to mc. though I am acquainted with facts which her father and I have purposely kept fr*>m her knowledge. Mr. Forbes has gone hurriedly to the Home Office. I suppose you know what that means? He is about to give the Home Secretary certain information, and it is not for you or mc to interfere with his discretion. Kow, if you tell the Scotland Yard people what you have told mc. namely, that Mr. Forbes was the intermediary through which Mrs. Lester rereived the greater part of her income, he will be brought prominently into the inquiry. Ybu see that, don't you?

'YesV I supose something or that sort must happen." " Well, I want you to suppress that vital fact until we know more about this affair. "It will not be for long. Each of us must tell our story without reservation at come future date — whether this afternoon, or to-morrow, or a week hence. I cannot say now. But I do ask you to keep your knowledge to yourself until 1 have had an opportunity of consulting Mr. Forbes. I undertake to tell you the exact position of matters without delay, and I accept all responsibility for my present advice."

'• I know little of the world. Mr. Theydon." said Miss Beale. rising, and beginning to draw on her gloves. " but I shall be very greatly surprised if you are advising mc to act otherwise than honourably. I shall certainly not utter a word about Mr. Forbes at Scotland Yard. When all is said and done, my statement to you wa..i Inrijelv \ou must remember that I have never seen Mr. Forbes, nor hardly ever heard his name except in connection with public matters in the Press. Oh, yes. I make that promise readily. I trust you implicitly."

(To be continued next Saturday.)