"It threatens to remain a mystery, does it not?" he murmured. "Just wait, Mr. Bruce, until I lay my hands on Corbett. Clever as you are, I think I will show you that Scotland Yard can occasionally get the better of your theories. Anyhow, Corbett will have to be very explicit about his movements before I am satisfied that he knows nothing about this business." He had written to the Chief of Police at Cheyenne, and something definite would soon come to hand. Nevertheless, he felt somewhat shaken in his diagnosis of the crime. Wyoming was a long way from London, and the letter from Corbett, which he had in his possession, did not exactly confirm his suspicion that this man was concerned in the murder of Lady Dyke. He quickly became aware of Mrs. Hillmer's departure, and at once jumped to the conclusion that she had recently left England for the United States. A close scrutiny of the passenger lists at Liverpool and Southampton did not help him much, and he ultimately resolved to call on Bruce, in the hope that a chance exclamation might reveal the barrister's opinion of the situation. Claude was not at a loss to account for Mr. White's presence. "I expected you," he said. "Really now, may I ask why, sir?" "Because you have missed Mrs. Hillmer, and you want me to help you find where she has gone, and why." The detective smiled. "I won't say that you are wrong, sir," he cried. "In these affairs it is always well to keep an eye on the woman, you know." "When did Mrs. Hillmer leave Raleigh Mansions?" "On the 30th." "It is now February 3. Four days ago, eh?" "That is the time. She might have left by the American line from Southampton or the Cunard from Liverpool on Wednesday, but she did not, and no one answering to her description is booked by the White Star to-morrow." "Southampton! Liverpool! Do you think she has gone to America?" "Where else? She's in league with Corbett, somehow, of that I am certain, and I think that the Monte Carlo address was a mere blind--a clever one, too, as it even deceived you, Mr. Bruce." "Yes. It did deceive me." "Then why are you so surprised at the suggestion that the lady should attempt to cross the Atlantic?" "Because I have not your rapid perception of the points of the case." "That's your way of pulling my leg, Mr. Bruce." The barrister smiled. Mrs. Hillmer, of course, had gone to Monte Carlo. Once there she would have little difficulty in tracing the _White Heather_, and overtaking Mensmore. She would warn him of the police pursuit, and there would be a scene between them. How would it result? Would Mensmore, guilty, seek safety in flight? Would he, innocent, return to London and demand to be confronted with his accusers? For the life of him, Bruce could not say positively. Yet he felt the situation was too delicate to be dealt with by Mr. White's bludgeon methods, and he forebore to speak.