"No; with Hutchings--the butler," said Olivia. "But that wouldn't be such a serious matter--not one to brood upon," said Mr. Flexen. "I suppose not," said Olivia readily. Mr. Flexen paused again; then he said in a somewhat reluctant tone: "There's another matter I must go into. Have you any reason to believe that there was any other woman in Lord Loudwater's life--anything in the nature of an intrigue? It's not a pleasant question to have to ask, but it's really important." "Oh, I don't expect any pleasantness where Lord Loudwater is concerned," said Olivia, with a sudden almost petulant impatience, for this inquisition was a much more severe strain on her than Mr. Flexen perceived. "Do you mean now, or before we were married?" "Now," said Mr. Flexen. "I haven't the slightest idea," said Olivia. "Do you think it likely?" said Mr. Flexen. "No, I don't--not very. I don't see how he could have got another woman in. He was always about--always. Of course, he rode a good deal, though." "He did, did he?" said Mr. Flexen quickly. "Every afternoon and most mornings." That was important. Mr. Flexen thought that he might not have to go very far afield to find the woman who had been quarrelling with Lord Loudwater at a few minutes past eleven the night before. She probably lived within an easy ride of the Castle. "I'm very much obliged to you for helping me so readily in such distressing circumstances," he said in a grateful voice as he rose. "If anything further occurs to you that may throw any light on the matter, you might let me hear it with as little delay as possible." "I will," said Olivia. "By the way, Mrs. Carruthers told me that you would like to stay here while you were making your inquiry; please do; and please make any use of the servants and the cars you like. My husband's heir is still in Mesopotamia, and I expect that I shall have to run the Castle till he comes back." "Thank you. To stay here will be very convenient and useful," said Mr. Flexen gratefully, and left her. He came down the stairs thoughtfully. It seemed to him quite unlikely that she had had anything to do with the crime, or knew anything more about it than she had told him. Nevertheless, there was this business of Colonel Grey and her murdered husband's threat to divorce her. They must be borne in mind. He would have been surprised, intrigued, and somewhat shaken in his conviction that she had been in no way connected with the murder, had he heard the gasp of intense relief which burst from Olivia's lips when the door closed behind him, and seen her huddle up in her chair and begin to cry weakly in the reaction from the strain of his inquisition. CHAPTER VII