The lawyer reflected and frowned. "I did hear that my cousin was entangled with some woman," he said with reluctance. "But that was many months ago. In fact, there was a rumour of a marriage. I asked Gregory if this was so, and received a prompt denial. But for all that," added Garth, looking at the portrait, "there might have been some truth in the rumours. I never saw this lady; but my cousin could be very secretive when he liked. Seventy-four to ninety-three; just nineteen. Poor creature! Whosoever she was, I am certain that he treated her badly." "You may judge him too harshly." Garth shook his head with a gloomy air. "I knew my cousin well," he said. "He would have killed any woman with unkindness." They looked at one another, and back at the photograph. There was something sinister in the fact that the two articles were inscribed in the same handwriting. The writing on the photograph recorded the decease of a pretty woman; that on the envelope had lured the baronet to his death. Was it possible that the follies of Sir Gregory had come home to him in so fearful a fashion. The two men could not but incline to this opinion. "Well!" said Fanks, after a long pause, "I should like to ask Robert what he knows about this woman." "Very probably he knows nothing." "I am not so certain about that," replied Fanks, "When you asked him about a woman--about a possible entanglement, he could hardly speak for fear; and he told a lie about it. He is a servile hound, that fellow, and I daresay he did all Fellenger's dirty work for him. We must have him in and force the truth from his unwilling lips." "Will you go away after you have seen him?" said Garth, who was beginning to weary of the matter. "No. I wish to wait and see--a girl." "A girl! What girl?" "A young lady who called this morning to see Robert. Maxwell told her the necessary lie that Robert was out, so she said she would call again this afternoon at three." "It is past three now," said Garth, glancing at the clock. "All the better; she may appear at any moment. Maxwell has my orders to show her in here." "And then?" "And then I shall find out why a lady should call upon that miserable dog of a valet. In the meantime touch the bell and have him in." "Shall I question him?" "If you please. I wish to remain incognito." Robert answered the bell so promptly as to suggest the probability that he had been stationed at the keyhole. His face, however, was as vacant and miserable as ever, so even if he had overheard, Fanks did not think that he had sufficient brains to be dangerous. The valet waited mutely for orders, with a cowed look on his face, and rubbed one lean hand over the other. He was an uncomfortable creature in every respect. "Robert," said Garth, in as mild a tone as was possible, "I was authorised by the police to look over my cousin's papers. I have done so with the assistance of Mr. Rixton, and we have made several discoveries."