I had pitied her, now I could not help admiring her. Of course, the story was a fabrication. She had met Quarles on his own ground, and beaten him. She had seen through his persuasive manner, and in a few words had entirely dissociated her lover from the robbery, and shown the futility of attempting to find him. The professor did not let her see his disappointment. "Most useful information, Miss Yerbury," he said. "I am sure you will not regret having told me the truth." He was silent for a little while, as we went back to the station, and then he said suddenly: "A queer story, Wigan." "Clever!" I answered. "Extremely clever. We have a curious rogue to deal with, the motive obscure. There's a very strange mental twist somewhere." "And we're no nearer a solution of the problem," I said. "Anyway, we'll visit the bank again to-morrow. Eleven o'clock, Wigan. Until then I want to be alone. Good night!" We could not see Mr. Wickstead at once when we went to the bank next day, and although the general manager apologized for keeping us waiting, he was evidently very busy, and wanted to be rid of us as quickly as possible. "I'm afraid you don't make much progress," he said. "My directors are beginning to say that the publicity is worse than the loss." "We go slowly," I answered; "but for the general safety publicity is necessary in an affair of this kind." "We will not detain you," said Quarles. "I can see we have come at an inconvenient time. Just one question. Had the locks of the strong-room doors been repaired recently?" "No. They were in excellent order." "It has not even been necessary to have new keys made?" "No." Quarles rose, and thanked him; then, as he reached the door, he paused. "Oh, it may interest you to know that we have got on the track of Frederick Ewing," he said. "Then there has been some progress. I am glad. Still, I am afraid Ewing will not be able to throw much light on this affair. Where is he?" "Abroad," Quarles answered. "We expect to have definite information this afternoon. It is often easier to find criminals when they go abroad than when they remain hidden in England." When we were outside the bank Quarles began to chuckle. "It doesn't do to let these fellows think we are doing nothing, Wigan; and, in a sense, we have got on Ewing's track. We have found the woman. Isn't that always considered the great point?" "This seems to be one of the exceptions which are supposed to prove the rule," I answered. "We'll get back to Chelsea. I daresay Zena can give us some lunch." From that moment until the three of us retired to the empty room after lunch Quarles would not talk about the case, but when we were in the empty room he began at once.