"It was I who supplied funds for the most part, and it was only when my resources threatened to give out, that we tried other methods. When I left for Liverpool, I was nearly at the bottom of my purse. The arrangement with Mr. Grell was, that I should remain in hiding there until such time as he could obtain money to enable us to get out of the country. Then I was to join him. I got a wire from him at last fixing Dalehurst Grange, and knowing that the stations would be watched, I determined to motor down. "This explanation should make the things clear you do not already know,--L.P." Heldon Foyle finished reading, and there was a moment's silence, broken at last by a gasp from Grell. "It was she, then, not--not----" "Not Lady Eileen Meredith," interrupted Foyle. "But do you confirm what she says there, Mr. Grell?" Grell reached out, and took the paper with a hand that shook. He scanned it quickly, and handed it back to the superintendent. "She is right in everything she says about me," he admitted. "I did think--God forgive me!--that my own eyes were right. I believed that Eileen had killed that man. That it was influenced me in everything I did. Till this moment, I had no idea----" He wheeled almost angrily on Green. "Why didn't you say why you brought me here?" The chief inspector shrugged his shoulders. "My instructions were to bring you here--not to give explanations." "I thought it best that you should learn all there was to know at your leisure," interjected Foyle. "Of course, we knew nothing of this"--he tapped the confession as he spoke--"before you came in." Sir Hilary Thornton smoothed his moustache. "It has been an unpleasant business for all of us," he said urbanely, "and particularly for you, Mr. Grell. I can scarcely apologise for the trouble you have been caused, for, frankly, you have brought it all on yourself, though unofficially, I may say that I have never known a man behave with greater courage than you have in this matter. I am afraid that some of the things your fr----, your associates, have done, will have to be answered for, but anything consistent with our duty will be done for them. Perhaps Mr. Foyle will tell us the story of the case now. You are at least entitled to that." CHAPTER LVI A deprecating smile came to the superintendent's lips. Robert Grell was studying him curiously. He recognised that he owed much to the blue-eyed, square-faced detective. "Yes, I think I am at least entitled to that," he echoed. Foyle gave a shrug. "As you like, gentlemen. You once complained, Sir Hilary, that I talked like a detective out of a book. This kind of thing makes me feel like one--except that, in this case, I cannot claim much credit. I only used common sense and perseverance." "Let us have it," said Grell. He was beginning to be his own masterful self.