I turned the letters over; he was probably right as to their contents. There was one, however, in a woman's handwriting which interested me. I almost passed it to him, and then thought better of it. "It struck me that there was a threatening tone in your letters," I said. "Perhaps. I was not averse from frightening her a little if I could." "Not very generous," I said. "I don't feel generous. She'd have to come down very handsomely to make me drink her health." "If your story is the correct one, there may be a reason for your aunt leading so secluded a life," I went on. "In marrying your uncle she may have tricked her confederates." "It is more than possible," Jardine answered. "Do you know any of them who would be likely to do her an injury?" I asked. "You're thinking I would give the old woman away to them?" he laughed. "No; I have worked on the shady side at times, but I am not so bad as that." "I wasn't thinking so." "Then I don't understand your question. Is it likely I should have acquaintances in a gang of Continental thieves?" "The night before last Mrs. Jardine was murdered," I said quietly. The man sprang from his chair. "Murdered! Then--by heaven! you're--you're thinking that----" "And her companion, a Mrs. Harrison, is not to be found," I added. "Mrs. Jardine--dead! Then I come into my own. The night before last--where was I? Drunk. I didn't get home." "I know that. I called here yesterday." "Are you thinking that I had a hand in it?" "I am looking for her companion," I answered. Had there been no missing companion I should have been very doubtful about Thomas Jardine; as it was, the two became connected in my mind. I left the Hammersmith flat, stopping outside to give instructions to the man I had brought with me to keep a watch upon Jardine's movements. Then I went to Wimbledon to see Martha Wakeling again, but I did not tell her I had seen Jardine. "Do you think you could find me any of Mrs. Harrison's handwriting?" I asked. "I believe I can," she said, after a moment's thought. "She wrote a store's order the other day which was not sent. I believe it's in this drawer. Yes, here it is." I glanced at it and put it in my pocket. "I wonder whether this nephew has anything to do with the affair?" I said contemplatively. "No," she said with decision. "Why are you so certain? You said you didn't know him." "I don't." "I have discovered one thing," I said carelessly. "By Mrs. Jardine's death he comes into a lot of money." "I've heard my mistress say something of the kind." "You see, there would be a motive for the murder." "The thing is to find Mrs. Harrison," she said. "A woman doesn't go away in the middle of the night unless she has a good reason for doing so." Details of the crime, so far as they were known, were now published, and the description of Mrs. Harrison was circulated in the press.