Part 27 (1/2)

”I never suggested for a moment that she was a woman of _primitive_ emotions,” Mr. Manley protested with some vehemence.

”But the emotions of all women are primitive,” said Mr. Flexen.

”Not the emotion excited in them by beauty,” said Mr. Manley with chivalrous warmth. ”And, hang it all! Does she look like a woman to commit murder?”

”Not on her own account, certainly,” said Mr. Flexen.

”And on whose account should she commit murder?” cried Mr. Manley.

Mr. Flexen shrugged his shoulders.

”I said you knew ten times as much about the business as I do,” said Mr.

Manley in a tone of triumph.

CHAPTER XIV

Mr. Flexen awoke next morning hopeful of news of the mysterious woman.

But the letters addressed to him at the Castle and those brought over from the office of the Chief Constable at Low Wycombe brought none. After breakfast, still hopeful, he telephoned to Scotland Yard. No information had reached it.

He perceived clearly that the case was at a deadlock till he had that information. He was sure that it would come sooner or later, possibly from the neighbourhood, more probably from London. It was always possible that Mr. Carrington might discover that some other lawyer had handled an entanglement for Lord Loudwater. In the meantime, his work at the Castle was done. He had exhausted its possibilities. There was no reason why he should not return to his rooms at Low Wycombe. After having conferred with Inspector Perkins, he decided to leave one of the two detectives to continue making inquiries in the neighbourhood. He told James Hutchings that he would like his clothes packed, and went to the rose-garden to taken his leave of Olivia and thank her for her hospitality.

He found her looking very charming in a light summer frock of white lace with a few black bows set about it, and he thought that she seemed less under a strain than she had seemed the day before. He told her that he was returning to Low Wycombe; she expressed regret at his going, and thanked him for his efforts to clear up the matter of Lord Loudwater's death. They parted on the friendliest terms.

As he came away, Mr. Flexen thought it significant that, though she had thanked him for his efforts, she had made no inquiry about the result of them. It might be that she dreaded to hear that they were on the way to be successful.

He observed that James Hutchings, who watched over his actual departure, seemed less pale and haggard than he had been the night before. He could well believe that he was glad to see him going without having had him arrested.

As he drove through the park he told himself that Lady Loudwater and Mr.

Manley between them would probably break down any case the police might bring against any one but the mysterious woman, and they might break down that. For his part, he was not going to give much time or attention to it till the mysterious woman had been discovered, and he did not think that he would be urged by Headquarters to do so after he had sent in his report, for, mindful of what he had told them of the unsatisfactory nature of Dr. Thornhill's evidence, Mr. Gregg in the _Daily Wire_ and Mr. Douglas on the _Daily Planet_ were dealing with the case in a half-hearted manner, though they were still clamouring with some vivacity for the mysterious woman.

As Mr. Flexen came out of the park gates he met William Roper on the edge of the West wood, stopped the car, and walked a few yards down the road to talk to him out of hearing of the chauffeur.

”I gather that you haven't told any one of what you saw on the night of Lord Loudwater's death; or I should have heard of it,” he said.

”Not a word, I haven't,” said William Roper.

”That's good,” said Mr. Flexen in a tone of warm approval. ”It might spoil everything to put people on their guard.”

He was more strongly than ever resolved to prevent, if he could, the gamekeeper from setting afoot a scandal about Lady Loudwater which could be of no service to the police or any one else.

”Everybody says as James Hutchings did it, sir,” said William Roper.

”H'm! And what do they say about the mysterious lady the papers are talking about--the lady you saw?”

”Oh, they don't pay no 'eed to 'er--not about 'ere, sir. They know Jim Hutchings,” said William Roper contemptuously.

”I see,” said Mr. Flexen.

”'Er ladys.h.i.+p and Colonel Grey, they still spends a lot of their time in the East wood pavilion. But now 'er ladys.h.i.+p's a widder, it's n.o.body's business but their own, I reckon,” said William Roper.