Part 32 (1/2)
”Then we may take it that he did not write the letter of instruction to the bankers,” said Mr. Flexen.
”Oh, he might have done and still have said nothing about it. He has a very sensitive delicacy and might have thought it my business and not his. I haven't told him about the twelve thousand pounds yet. I don't bother him about business matters. In fact, I'm going to manage his business as well as my own.”
”And he didn't know about the allowance?” said Mr. Flexen.
”Oh, yes, he did. I told him all about that,” said Helena quickly.
Mr. Flexen paused, considering. He seemed to have learnt from her all she had to tell.
There came the sound of the opening of the door of the flat and of steps in the hall. Then the door of the room opened, and Mr. Manley came in.
Mr. Flexen's eyes swept over him. He was looking cheerful, prosperous, and rather sleek. His air had grown even more important and a.s.sured.
He greeted Mr. Flexen warmly and beamed on him. Then he demanded tea. But Mr. Flexen rose, declared that he must be going, and in spite of Mr.
Manley's protests went. It had flashed on him that he might just catch Mr. Carrington at his office.
CHAPTER XVI
Mr. Flexen did find Mr. Carrington at his office, and Mr. Carrington's first words were:
”Well, have you found the mysterious woman?”
”I've found the mysterious woman, and she's now Mrs. Herbert Manley,”
said Mr. Flexen.
Mr. Carrington stared at him, then he said softly: ”Well, I'm d.a.m.ned!”
”It does explain several things,” said Mr. Flexen dryly. ”We know now why she was so hard to find--why there was no trace of her relations with Lord Loudwater, no trace of Shepherd's managing the Low Wycombe property among his papers, why there were no pa.s.s-books.”
Mr. Carrington flushed and said: ”The young scoundrel had us on toast all the while.”
”Toast is the word,” said Mr. Flexen.
”I never did like the beggar. I couldn't stand his infernal manner. But it never occurred to me that he was a bad hat. I merely thought him a pretentious young a.s.s who didn't know his place,” said Mr. Carrington.
”I'm not so sure about the a.s.s,” said Mr. Flexen.
”No--perhaps not. He certainly brought it off for a time, and s.h.i.+elded her as long as it lasted,” said Mr. Carrington slowly.
”She didn't need any s.h.i.+elding,” said Mr. Flexen.
”Do you mean to tell me that she didn't murder Loudwater?”
”She did not. You don't murder a man who has just given you twelve thousand pounds,” said Mr. Flexen.
”Twelve thousand pounds?” said Mr. Carrington slowly. Then he started from his chair and almost howled: ”Are you telling me that Lord Loudwater gave this woman twelve thousand pounds! He never gave any one twelve thousand pounds! He never gave any one a thousand pounds! He never gave any one fifty pounds! He couldn't have done it! Never in his life!”
His voice rose in a fine crescendo.