Anthony turned this new piece of information over in his mind. The case certainly became more puzzling as it progressed. He couldn’t forget that he had two trails to follow. Would the trail that led to the blackmailer of the Crown Prince also lead to the murderer of Sheila Delaney? He couldn’t feel sure . . . yet something seemed to tell him that they were intertwined. He heard Bannister put another question to the woman who sat in the room. “How long did this Indian chap stay with Miss Delaney?” “How long—less than half an hour, I should say.” “Did you hear any of the conversation?” “No. None at all. All I heard was his greeting to her when I took him into her. If Miss Sheila had wished me to hear what he came to see her about she would have asked me into the room where the interview took place. She didn’t—so I heard nothing. All I know is what she was pleased to tell me of it afterwards. She gave him money. That’s all I can tell you.” “Pinkie” tossed her head rather defiantly—she was unable to rid herself of the idea that she had been suspected of eavesdropping. Bannister turned to Ross. “Seen anything of this Lal Singh in the neighbourhood—heard of him anywhere?” Ross shook his head. “Not so far as I know—I’ve heard nothing. But I’ll inquire for you if you like when I get back?” “Do,” said the Inspector—“it may be worth following up. I should have thought he would have been a pretty conspicuous figure.” “There was an Indian chap found about ten years ago wandering round Nillebrook Water but the doctors reckoned he was ‘scatty’—bats in the belfry—you know. They brought him in as a lunatic ‘without settlement’ and bunged him in the County Mental Hospital. The Nillebrook ratepayers have had the somewhat doubtful pleasure of maintaining him ever since.” Ross chuckled and proceeded. “Perhaps he’s escaped,” he added, jokingly. Bannister made no reply to what he considered an extravagant and inappropriate suggestion but returned to the woman. “You can assure me, I suppose, that your mistress had no money troubles?” “Pinkie” scouted the idea on a strong note of indignation. “Absurd! You can clear your mind on that point,” she declared. “Miss Sheila was left very comfortably off—and with a considerable reserve,” she hinted darkly. “That’s all right then,” put in Bannister, “I can rest easy on that score—eh?” He watched her carefully for a moment. “Where will you be staying during the next few days?” intervened Anthony, “in case the Inspector or I should want a word with you?” “I thought about going to stay with some friends in Westhampton—the name is Lucas—they live at——”