Part 22 (2/2)

It grew clearer and clearer that there most probably lay that solution of the problem. If that woman herself had not murdered Lord Loudwater, as seemed most likely, she might very well give him the clue for which he was groping. He must find her, and, of course, sooner or later he would find her. But the sooner he found her, the sooner would the problem be solved and his work done. Till he found her he would not find its solution.

It still seemed to him probable that somewhere among Lord Loudwater's papers there was information which would lead to her discovery, and he went into the library to confer again with Mr. Carrington on the matter.

He found him discussing the arrangements for tomorrow's funeral with Mrs.

Carruthers and Wilkins.

When they had gone he said: ”Did you come across any information about that mysterious woman in the rest of the papers?”

”Not a word,” said Mr. Carrington.

”I've been thinking that you might come across traces of her in his pa.s.s-books--payments or an allowance.”

”I thought of that. But there's only one pa.s.sbook, the one in use. Lord Loudwater doesn't seem to have kept them after they were filled. And Manley knows all about this one; he wrote out every cheque in it for Loudwater, and he is quite sure that there were no cheques of any size for a woman among them.”

”That's disappointing,” said Mr. Flexen. ”What about the cheques to 'Self'? Are there any large ones among them?”

”No. They're all on the small side--distinctly on the small side--cheques for ten pounds--and very few of them.”

”It is queer that it should be so difficult to find any information about a woman who played such an important part in his life,” said Mr.

Flexen gloomily.

”It's not so very uncommon,” said the lawyer.

”Well, let's hope that the advertis.e.m.e.nt she'll get from my newspaper friends will bring her to light,” said Mr. Flexen.

”It would be a pleasant surprise to me to find them serving some useful purpose,” said Mr. Carrington grimly.

Mr. Flexen laughed and said: ”You're prejudiced. It's about time to dress for dinner.”

Mr. Carrington rose with alacrity and said anxiously, ”I hope to goodness Loudwater didn't quarrel with his chef!”

”I've no reason to think so. The food's excellent,” said Mr. Flexen.

Mr. Manley joined them at dinner, wearing his best air of a discreet and indulgent man of the world, and confident of making himself valued. He was in very good spirits, for he had persuaded Helena to marry him that day month, and was rejoicing in his success. He did not tell Mr. Flexen, or Mr. Carrington, of his good fortune. He felt that it would hardly interest them, since neither of them knew Helena or was intimate with himself. But, inspired by this success, he took the lead in the conversation, and showed himself inclined to be somewhat patronizing to two men outside the sphere of imaginative literature.

It was Mr. Flexen who broached the subject of the murder.

After they had talked of the usual topics for a while, he said: ”By the way, Manley, did you hear Lord Loudwater snore after Hutchings went into the library, or before?”

”So you know that I saw Hutchings in the hall that night?” said Mr.

Manley. ”It's wonderful how you find things out. I didn't tell you, and I should have thought that I was the only person awake in the front part of the Castle. I suppose that some one saw him getting his cigarettes from the butler's pantry.”

”So that was the reason he gave you for being in the Castle,” said Mr.

Flexen. ”Well, was it after or before you spoke to him that you heard Lord Loudwater snore?”

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