"What are references worth, anyhow?" cried the agent, testily. "In this instance, when inquired into by the police, they were proved to be bogus. A bundle of bank-notes inspires confidence when you are a buyer, and propose to part with them forthwith." "Surely suspicions were aroused?" The agent coughed discreetly. "This is London, you know. Given a pretty girl, a singer, a minor actress, who leaves her home and lives alone in apartments exceedingly well furnished, what do people think? The man had sufficient reasons to remain unknown, and those reasons were strengthened ten-fold by the scandal of Miss Barnes's death. She left not even a scrap of paper to identify him, or herself, for that matter. All we had was his signature to the agreement. It is, I believe, a false name. Would you care to see it?" "Yes," said David. Dibbin took some papers from a pigeonhole. Among them David recognized the deed he had signed a few days earlier. A similar document was now spread before him. It bore the scrawl, "Johann Strauss," with the final S developed into an elaborate flourish. "A foreigner," observed David. "Possibly. The man spoke excellent English." "Have you ever heard of Lombroso, Mr. Dibbin?" "Lombroso? I have seen the name, somewhere in Soho, I think." "Not the same," said David with due gravity. "The man I mean is an Italian criminologist of great note. He lays it down as a principle that a signature of that kind is a sign of moral degeneracy. Keep an eye on those among your clients who use such a flourish, Mr. Dibbin." "Good gracious!" cried the agent, casting a glance at the well-stuffed letter-cases of his office. How many moral degenerates had left their sign manual there! "Two more questions," went on Harcourt. "Where do Miss Barnes's relatives reside?" "Her name was not Barnes," was the instant answer; "but I am pledged to secrecy in that regard. There is a mother, a most charming woman, and a sister, both certainly most charming ladies, of a family very highly respected. They did not discover the unhappy girl's death until she was long laid to rest--" "Then, why is the flat still in the condition in which Miss Barnes inhabited it?" "Ah, that is simple enough. Isn't the agreement valid for nearly a year yet? When that term expires, I shall dispose of the furniture and hand over the proceeds to the young lady's heirs-at-law, subject to direction, of course, in case the real lessee ever puts in a claim."