“Letty Shaw was an Australian, wasn’t she?” he asked. “Yes.” “She was born there, and lived there till she was nearly eighteen--is that true?” he asked again. “Quite true,” Miss Brown answered. “You know the offices of the P.& O. line of steamers in Pall Mall?” he asked. She nodded. “Well?” “Get a sailing list to Australia--there should be a boat going Thursday. Present yourself as a prospective passenger. See how many young women alone there are going out, and ask their names. Incidentally put in a little spare time watching the office.” She looked at him with parted lips and wide-open eyes. “Do you think--” she began. He shook her hand warmly and stepped back into the taxicab. “Good night!” he said. “No questions, please. I sha’n’t expect you at the office at the usual time to-morrow, at any rate. Telephone or run around if you’ve anything to tell me.” The taxicab disappeared round the corner of the street. Miss Brown was standing still upon the pavement with the latchkey in her hand. ***** It was afternoon before the inquest on the body of Austen Abbott, and there was gathered together in Letty Shaw’s parlor a curiously assorted little group of people. There was Miss Shaw herself--or rather what seemed to be the ghost of herself--and her mother; Lady Mary and Sir William Trencham; Peter Ruff and Violet Brown--and Mr. John Dory. The eyes of all of them were fixed upon Peter Ruff, who was the latest arrival. He stood in the middle of the room, calmly taking off his gloves, and glancing complacently down at his well-creased trousers. “Lady Mary,” he said, “and Miss Shaw, I know that you are both anxious for me to explain why I ask you to meet me here this afternoon, and why I also requested my friend Mr. Dory from Scotland Yard, who has charge of the case against Captain Sotherst, to be present. I will tell you.” Mr. Dory nodded, a little impatiently. “Unless you have something very definite to say,” he remarked, “I think it would be as well to postpone any general discussion of this matter until after the inquest. I must warn you that so far as I, personally, am concerned, I must absolutely decline to allude to the subject at all. It would be most unprofessional.” “I have something definite to say,” Peter Ruff declared, mildly. Lady Mary’s eyes flashed with hope--Letty Shaw leaned forward in her chair with white, drawn face. “Let it be understood,” Peter Ruff said, with a slight note of gravity creeping into his tone, “that I am here solely as the agent of Lady Mary Sotherst. I am paid and employed by her. My sole object is on her behalf, therefore, to discover proof of the innocence of Captain Sotherst. I take it, however,” he added, turning towards the drooping figure in the easy-chair, “that Miss Shaw is as anxious to have the truth known.” “Of course! Of course!” she murmured.