"Donna Maria. Like yourself, I fancy she knows something, and is
shielding someone. Should I trace the person who changed these notes,
he may turn out to be the individual she is shielding. If I tell her
the name, and assure her that restitution has been made, she may tell
all she knows."
Torry nodded his head approvingly. "There is something in that," said
he. "I give you leave to make a confidant of Donna Maria; but let me
tell you, sir, if you succeed in getting a confession out of her, you
will be the cleverest man in the world."
"I'll take my chance of that!" replied Darrel, and they parted.
For the next week Torry was engaged in advertising for the tramp who
had found the body of Julia Brawn. It struck him that Julia might have
worn some jewellery--a brooch, a ring, or a locket--of which the tramp
had probably robbed her. Could he see such jewellery, he might find
some trace of her supposed lover; since lovers usually make such gifts
to those they adore. Of course, the idea was purely theoretical, and
it might probably turn out to be worth nothing. Still, Torry was like
a drowning man clutching at a straw. The advertising for the lost
tramp was the straw he grasped at.
While thus engaged, Darrel made his appearance in a state of great
excitement, and announced that he had been successful. In a suburban
bank he had discovered traces of two of the original notes which had
been exchanged for two others which bore the numbers of those
restored.
"Evidently," he said, "the man changed them before the date of the
murder, and substituted the second lot so that they could not be
traced by Manuel's list."
"That is a truism," cried Torry impatiently.
"I know the notes were changed, and the reason for changing them. But
who is the man who did so?"
"Can't you guess his name?" asked Darrel.
"No," retorted Torry sharply, "I can't!"
"It was Frederick Leighbourne."
CHAPTER XXI
DONNA MARIA EXPLAINS
For once in his life Torry was dumbfounded. He sat with staring eyes,
his mouth open, and his face red, gasping like a fish out of water. Of
all the names connected with the Grent case Frederick Leighbourne was
the last he expected to hear.
"It is impossible," said he, on recovering his speech.
"It is the truth; the manager of the Hampstead bank told me so. He
knows Leighbourne, and said that Leighbourne had no wish to deny who
he was."
Torry jumped up and made for the door, dragging Darrel along with him.
"Come on," said he quickly; "we must see Leighbourne at once."
"Do you intend to arrest him?"
"If I see cause to."
"You'll see no cause of his shewing," retorted Darrel, as they went
downstairs and hailed a cab.
"The man will lie freely."
"Naturally, to save his own neck."
"What! You don't think Leighbourne killed Grent?"