He brought it to her and gave it back, folded. “I suppose I should have told you that business but it was the girl’s secret. She didn’t want it known and I stumbled on it.” “I see,” she answered, inadequately. “Looks like a bad situation for them, doesn’t it? I didn’t know, by the way, where she had gone. I assumed she had gone to join him but I did think Sable had driven her to do it. Evidently he sent for her.” “And he nearly died.” They paused in embarrassment. Helen held herself tautly. “There’s an apology due you,” she began. He held his hand out, deprecating it. “No, please--you had every reason.” He changed the subject abruptly. “Do we let her have the money?” He smiled for a minute. “Money’s tight as hell. I haven’t got much in cash you know. But I don’t see how we can refuse the girl.” “We won’t,” said Helen. “By the way, what I came out to say was that Walter’s lawyer thinks we should send for Margaret Duffield. There’s a rumor that she is his legatee. He had no family--his mother died last year. From what Pratt said he left it all to Margaret. She’ll be rich.” “I did wire her,” answered Helen, “an hour ago. I thought she ought to know.” “That’s good.” “Tell me about it.” “It was all in the paper. He shot himself a little after midnight. He was alone in his room. It was evidently quite premeditated. There was a sealed letter for his lawyer with instructions undoubtedly and everything was in perfect order. He--he had simply decided to do it. And he has done it. Something made him lie down--that’s all.” He spoke reflectively, with a degree of abstraction that was surprising. “Why do they think he did it?” “Heat--not well physically. That’s what goes to the papers. Better spread that. If the girl is involved, we’ll keep her name clear.” “Oh, yes.” “For Walter’s sake,” Gage went on. And then very slowly, he added, “I wouldn’t like people to know that she got him.” “Yet if it comes out that he left her everything, won’t people guess?” “They won’t know. Nor do we know. Nobody knows except Walter and he’s dead.” They sent a second wire to Margaret requesting her presence for urgent reasons and by night they had heard that she would come. The funeral was to be on Friday.