“Lost his head for a woman? Is that what you mean?” “Precisely.” “But why do you think we may be too late?” “Because, though a week has passed since the supposed suicide, the cat has not jumped,” said Nick enigmatically. “I don’t get you.” “Nor I, chief,” put in Patsy. “What cat has not jumped?” “The two-legged cat responsible for the whole business,” Nick explained. “We can safely assume, the foregoing being correct, that Darling turned his fortune into cash with a view to leaving the country with the woman; that he aimed to create a belief that he is dead, presumably to prevent investigations, pursuit, and a possible lawsuit, with consequent alimony, and that he intended living abroad under a fictitious name with the woman.” “That now seems perfectly reasonable,” Chick agreed. “The question is, then, assuming Kate Crandall to be the woman, why have they not jumped the country?” Nick added. “Why the delay? Why is she established in the Ashburton Chambers? Why the continued interest in the Darling residence, as appears in what Danny saw and heard? That shows plainly enough that she is the woman involved. It is confirmed by her acquaintance with Ralph Sheldon, mentioned by Mrs. Darling as a friend of her husband. His friendship may be of the left-handed kind.” “Most likely, Nick.” “All this, then, denotes that something has gone wrong. Why has Darling not fled with the woman? Has he been given the double cross? He may have been bunkoed out of his big bundle of cash and--well, there is no telling what has become of him. It’s up to us to find out.” “I get you now, Nick,” Chick nodded. “He may, after all, be the man found dead in the boathouse.” Nick quickly shook his head. “I don’t think so,” said he. “If there were evidence showing positively that he was shot, rather than the contrary, I might think the rascals killed him. His going there voluntarily, however, his feigning despondency for close upon two months, apparently paving the way to get by with a fake suicide--all convinces me that he was not killed.” “I see.” “This is further confirmed by the removal of his photograph, which Mrs. Darling thinks is the only one in existence.” “What was his object in removing it?” “To prevent broadcast publication of it in the newspapers, in case the truth was suspected,” said Nick. “Verbal descriptions cut no great ice. A picture, however, has brought many a knave to the ringbolt. He was heading off that means of identification, exposure, and arrest.” “Gee! that listens good to me, chief,” said Patsy. “Ten to one it hits the nail on the head.” “I feel reasonably sure of it.” “But what are your plans?” Chick inquired. “If Darling is up against a gang, as you suspect, and they discover that his wife has put us on the case, it’s long odds that they will lose no time in bolting.”