"Yes, I was," she said frankly. "It didn't seem like him. But since I've wondered whether he had made up his mind to commit suicide and wished to leave things quite straight." It was a plausible theory, but Mr. Flexen did not believe that Lord Loudwater had committed suicide. "I suppose that your husband knows all about it?" he said at random. "He may, and he may not. He hasn't said anything to me about it," she said. "Then we may take it that he did not write the letter of instruction to the bankers," said Mr. Flexen. "Oh, he might have done and still have said nothing about it. He has a very sensitive delicacy and might have thought it my business and not his. I haven't told him about the twelve thousand pounds yet. I don't bother him about business matters. In fact, I'm going to manage his business as well as my own." "And he didn't know about the allowance?" said Mr. Flexen. "Oh, yes, he did. I told him all about that," said Helena quickly. Mr. Flexen paused, considering. He seemed to have learnt from her all she had to tell. There came the sound of the opening of the door of the flat and of steps in the hall. Then the door of the room opened, and Mr. Manley came in. Mr. Flexen's eyes swept over him. He was looking cheerful, prosperous, and rather sleek. His air had grown even more important and assured. He greeted Mr. Flexen warmly and beamed on him. Then he demanded tea. But Mr. Flexen rose, declared that he must be going, and in spite of Mr. Manley's protests went. It had flashed on him that he might just catch Mr. Carrington at his office. CHAPTER XVI Mr. Flexen did find Mr. Carrington at his office, and Mr. Carrington's first words were: "Well, have you found the mysterious woman?" "I've found the mysterious woman, and she's now Mrs. Herbert Manley," said Mr. Flexen. Mr. Carrington stared at him, then he said softly: "Well, I'm damned!" "It does explain several things," said Mr. Flexen dryly. "We know now why she was so hard to find--why there was no trace of her relations with Lord Loudwater, no trace of Shepherd's managing the Low Wycombe property among his papers, why there were no pass-books." Mr. Carrington flushed and said: "The young scoundrel had us on toast all the while." "Toast is the word," said Mr. Flexen. "I never did like the beggar. I couldn't stand his infernal manner. But it never occurred to me that he was a bad hat. I merely thought him a pretentious young ass who didn't know his place," said Mr. Carrington. "I'm not so sure about the ass," said Mr. Flexen. "No--perhaps not. He certainly brought it off for a time, and shielded her as long as it lasted," said Mr. Carrington slowly. "She didn't need any shielding," said Mr. Flexen. "Do you mean to tell me that she didn't murder Loudwater?" "She did not. You don't murder a man who has just given you twelve thousand pounds," said Mr. Flexen.