At this astounding revelation Bruce and the detective were utterly taken aback. It was with difficulty that the barrister enunciated his next words clearly. "Can you tell me with absolute certainty the date of this change of the furniture?" "Oh yes. It was the day before I started for the Riviera; that must have been November 7." "Are you positive of this?" "Undoubtedly. Is it a matter of importance? Gwen, you know all about it. Besides, the bills for your new furniture will show the exact date of delivery, and it was the same day." Mrs. Hillmer's face was hidden by her veil, but she nodded silently. Three people in the room knew the significance of Mensmore's straightforward words; he alone was unaware of the direction towards which the investigation now tended. "Let us analyze the matter carefully," said Bruce, who had recovered his self-possession, though he was almost terrified at the possibilities of the situation. "Did the whole of the contents of your drawing-room come from your sister's flat?" "Every stick. There was nothing there before but the bare boards." "Do you remember a handsome ornamental fender being among these articles?" "Perfectly. My housekeeper said the men broke it during the transit. They denied this, and looked for the piece chipped off, but could not find it. She told me about it that night." "Did you mention it to Mrs. Hillmer?" "No. To tell the honest truth, Gwen and I had quarrelled a couple of days before. That is to say, we disagreed seriously about a certain matter, and it was this which led to my making off to Monte Carlo. Therefore it was hardly likely I should mention such a trivial matter to her." "May I ask what you quarrelled about?" "I have told her since that it ought to be made known, but she has implored me not to reveal it, so I cannot. But she will tell you herself that we agreed I should be at liberty to make this guarded explanation." Bruce and the detective exchanged glances of wondering comprehension. "I do not think we need question Mr. Mensmore further," said the barrister to White. "No," was the reply. "The matter is clear enough. Mrs. Hillmer must tell us how that furniture came to be transferred from her premises on the morning of the 7th." "If she chooses." The barrister's tone was sad, and its ominous significance was not lost on his hearers. Mrs. Hillmer raised her veil. Her face was deathly pale and tense in its fixed agony. But in her eyes was a light which gave a curious aspect of resolve to her otherwise painful aspect of utter grief. "I do not choose," she said quietly, looking, not at Bruce or the detective, but at her brother. For a little while no one spoke. Mensmore at last broke out eagerly: "Don't act absurdly, Gwen. I cannot even guess where all this talk about the furniture is leading us, but I do know that you are as innocent of any complicity in Lady Dyke's death as I am, so it is better for you to help forward the inquiry than to retard it."