"It is a queer business altogether," said Sir Charles wearily; "I wish it were ended." CHAPTER XXV MISS PHYLLIS BROWNE INTERVENES Bruce was quite positive in his belief that Jane Harding was the paid agent of some person who wished to conceal the facts concerning Lady Dyke's death. Her unexpected appearance in the field at this late hour, no less than the bold _rôle_ she adopted, proved this conclusively. But in England there was no torture-chamber to which she might be led and gradually dismembered until she confessed the truth. So long as she adhered to the policy of pert denial she was quite safe. The law could not touch her, for the chief witness against her, Sir Charles Dyke, was obviously more than half-inclined to admit the genuineness of the letter, even in opposition to the superior judgment of his friend. Yet it was a matter which Bruce considered ought to be made known to the police, so he sent for Mr. White and told him of the strange result of his interview with Miss Marie le Marchant. "Dash everything!" cried the detective, when he heard the news. "I made a note sometime ago that that girl ought to be watched, but I clean forgot all about it." "Remember," said Bruce, "that my discovery was the result of pure accident. My object in visiting her was to endeavor to induce her confidence with regard to Lady Dyke's former life and habits. Indeed, I handled the business very badly." "I don't see that, sir. You got hold of a very remarkable fact, and thus prevented the success of a bold move by some one which, in my case at any rate, nearly choked me off the inquiry." "True. Thus far, chance favored me. But I ought to have been content with the assumption. There was no need to frighten her by pressing it home." "Oh, from that point of view--" began the detective. But Bruce was merely thinking aloud--rough-shaping his ideas as they grouped themselves in his brain. "Perhaps I am wrong there too," he went on. "If this girl is working to instructions she would have refused to help me in any way, and she already knows that I am on the trail. There is one highly satisfactory feature in the Jane Harding adventure, Mr. White." "And what is that?" "The person, or persons, responsible for Lady Dyke's death know that the matter has not been dropped. They are inclined to think that the circle is narrowing. In some of our casts, Mr. White, we must have come so unpleasantly close to them, that they deemed it advisable to throw us off the scent by a bold effort." "No doubt you are right, sir, but I wish to goodness I knew when we were 'warm,' as I am becoming tired of the business. Every new development deepens the mystery." The detective's face was as downcast as his words. "Surely not! The more pieces of the puzzle we have to handle the less difficult should be the final task of putting them together." "Not when every piece is a fresh puzzle in itself." "Why, what has disconcerted you to-day?" "Mrs. Hillmer."