But it appeared that Miss Toat had no vanity at all. "Madame Coralie's adornments are too conspicuous for one of my calling," she explained, "and I attract attention in quarters where I wish to be unknown. Better to be the ugly duckling, Mr. Shawe, for then I can be more successful in my profession." This remark recalled Ralph to the business in hand. "I sincerely hope that you have been successful in this instance?" he said eagerly. The woman, with her artificial air of youth and her garish mask of aggressive beauty, looked thoughtfully at the young man. "I have learnt a great deal which may be of use to you," she said slowly; "but I cannot say--so far as my opinion goes--that I have been successful." "Oh!" Ralph dropped back into the chair whence he had risen, and seemed extremely disappointed. "Then you have failed?" "I don't say that." "In that case you must have succeeded." "I don't say that either," remarked Miss Toat, drily. "You must have done one or the other," cried Shawe, exasperated. "No. I have learnt nothing very definite; but there are certain facts." She drummed on the table--her usual gesture when puzzled. "It is a very difficult case, Mr. Shawe." "I know that, and for such a reason I placed it in your hands," he retorted. Miss Toat nodded. "I am gratified by your opinion of my skill," she said politely. "All the same, you can't expect me to work miracles." "Is a miracle required in this case?" "I think so." She produced a mass of notes from her bag, and laid them down before the barrister. "There you will find all that I have been able to learn," she said to her employer. "They contain information about Madame Coralie--information which reveals much she would give her ears not to have known. Read these notes." Ralph turned over the loose papers. "I would rather hear what you have discovered by word of mouth," he said fretfully; for this beating round the bush annoyed him. "In a word, Miss Toat, do you suspect anyone?" "Yes, I do"--the detective leant forward with bright eyes--"but only theoretically. I suspect"--she paused for effect--"I suspect Madame Coralie herself as having strangled Lady Branwin." CHAPTER VIII A MYSTERIOUS COMMUNICATION Ralph stared at the woman, then threw himself back in his chair with a short laugh. He was greatly disappointed in the reply. "It is ridiculous to believe or even hint that Madame Coralie should be guilty," he remarked sharply. "She proved a very clear alibi. No less than four people--her husband and her three assistants--proved that she was in the still-room when the crime was taking place below." "Yes," assented Miss Toat, leaning her chin on her hand and her elbow on the table, "that is what puzzles me. The alibi is very clear, and yet--of course, you understand that I am merely theorising."