of her illness? I have not mentioned it to anyone." Cyril flattered himself that his voice had exactly the right note of slightly displeased surprise. He watched the Inspector breathlessly. Had he said the right thing? Yes, for Griggs's expression relaxed and he answered with a smile that was almost deprecating: "I, of course, saw the report of the man who searched the train, and I was naturally surprised to find that the only lady who had taken her ticket in Newhaven was Mrs. Cyril Crichton. In a case like this we have to verify everything, so when I discovered that the gentleman who was with her, was undoubtedly your Lordship, it puzzled me a good deal why both you and your valet should be so anxious to keep her Ladyship's presence in England a secret." "Yes, yes, it must have astonished you, and I confess I am very sorry you found me out," said Cyril. He had his cue now. The old lie must be told once more. "Her Ladyship is suffering from a--a nervous affection." He hesitated purposely. "In fact--she has just left an insane asylum," he finally blurted out. "You mean that the present Lady Wilmersley--not the Dowager--?" The Inspector was too surprised to finish his sentence. "Yes, it's queer, isn't it, that both should be afflicted in the same way," agreed Cyril, calmly lighting a cigarette. "Most remarkable," ejaculated Griggs, staring fixedly at Cyril. "As the doctors believe that her Ladyship will completely recover, I didn't want anyone to know that she had ever been unbalanced. But I might have known that it was bound to leak out." "We are no gossips, my lord; I shall not mention what you have told me to anyone." "Thanks. But if the whole police department----?" "They have got too much to do, to bother about what doesn't concern them. I don't believe a dozen of them noticed that in searching the train for one Lady Wilmersley, they had inadvertently stumbled on another, and as the latter had nothing to do with their case, they probably dismissed the whole thing from their minds. I know them!" "But you--" suggested Cyril. "Well, you see, it's different with me. It's the business of my men to bring me isolated facts, but I have to take a larger view of the--the--the--ah--possibilities. I have got to think of everything--suspect everyone." "Even me?" asked Cyril quickly. "Your Lordship would have no difficulty in proving an alibi." "So you took the trouble to find that out?" "Of course, my lord." "But why? I should really like to know what could have led you to suspect me?""I didn't suspect you, my lord. I only thought of you. You see, Lady Wilmersley must have had an accomplice and you must acknowledge that it was a strange coincidence that your Lordship should have happened to pass through Newhaven at that particular moment, especially as the
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