The barrister's active brain was already assimilating this new information. If a woman like Mrs. Hillmer had lost a dear and valuable friend--one who practically formed the horizon of her life--she would certainly have worn mourning for him. It was a singular coincidence that Mrs. Hillmer "lost" Colonel Montgomery about the same time that Lady Dyke disappeared. Detective and maid alike had drawn a false inference from Mrs. Hillmer's words. "We must find Colonel Montgomery," he said, after a slight pause. "Find him!" "Yes." "I hope neither of us is going his way for some time to come, Mr. Bruce," laughed the policeman. "White, I shall never cure you from jumping at conclusions. Upon your present evidence Colonel Montgomery is no more dead than you are." "But the maid said--" "I don't care if fifty maids said. There are many more ways of 'losing' a friend than by death. Pass me the Army List, on that bookshelf behind you there." A brief reference to the index, and Bruce said: "I thought so. There is no _Colonel_ Montgomery. There are several captains and lieutenants, and a Major-General who has commanded a small island in the Pacific for the last five years, but not a single colonel. White, you have blundered into eminence in your profession." "I'm glad to hear it, even as you put it, Mr. Bruce. But I don't see--" "I know you don't. If you did, a popular novelist would write your life and style you the English Lecocq. Mrs. Hillmer 'lost' the gallant colonel at the same time that the world 'lost' Lady Dyke. Find the first, and I am much mistaken if we do not learn all about the second." "Now I wonder if you are right." The detective's eyes sparkled with animation. It was the first real clue he had hit upon, and Bruce's method of complimenting him on the fact did not disconcert him. "Of course I am right. You have done so well with the maid that I leave her in your hands. Try the coachman and the cook. But keep me informed of your progress." White rushed off elated. So persistent was he in striving to elucidate this new problem that he paid no heed during some days to the side-light furnished by Jane Harding and her exceedingly curious powers as a letter-writer. Bruce purposely left the inquiry to the policeman. He realized intuitively that the disappearance of Lady Dyke would soon be explained, but he shrank from subjecting Mrs. Hillmer to further questioning. His abstinence was rewarded later in the week, for Mensmore came to see him. The young man wore an expression of settled melancholy which surprised the barrister greatly. "Have you prevailed on your sister to take us into her confidence?" he said, when Mensmore was ensconced in a chair in his cosy sitting-room. "No. She is more fixed than ever in her resolve to take the whole blame on herself." "Surely this mistaken idea can be shaken?" "I fear not." "And you also share it?" "I do. Bear with us, Bruce. This is a terrible business. It has broken me up utterly."