"I know he did; but he said nothing about forty thousand pounds. I know that he told Mr. Mask he would place some money in his keeping, without mentioning the amount, but he never did so." "Didn't you find the money in his portmanteau or box, or----?" "We found nothing; nor did we find any papers mentioning that such a sum of money was in existence." "Then he must have been robbed of it, when dead." Eva shook her head. "Nothing was taken out of his pockets. His money, his jewellery, his watch--nothing was taken." "Queer," said Saltars. "Did you find in his pockets a large blue pocket-book with his crest on it, stamped in gold?" "No. When did you see that?" "When he was talking to me. I was hard up. I don't mind saying," said Saltars frankly, "that I'm always hard up. As your father looked upon me as his intended son-in-law, he gave me a pony, and took the notes out of the blue pocket-book. He carried his money there." "He would scarcely carry forty thousand pounds there." "No; but he might have carried a letter of credit for that amount. Or at least he would have some memorandum of such a large sum. If any notes were stolen with the pocket-book, you can trace those by the numbers when the murderer presents them, and then the beast will be caught. But the forty thousand----" "Stop--stop," said Eva, my head is in a whirl. "Are you sure?" "Perfectly; I was to marry you, and then we were to get the money. And I may tell you that your father said, more would come to us when he died. Depend upon it, Eva, the murder was committed for the sake of that money." "I wonder if my father meant diamonds?" said Eva. Saltars started. "By Jove, I shouldn't wonder," he said eagerly, "he would bring diamonds from South Africa as the easiest way to carry such a large sum. Perhaps he had the diamonds in his pocket and they were stolen." "I must tell Allen this." "Who is Allen?--oh, young Hill! Don't deny it. I can see it in your face, it's the lucky man. And by Jove he is. I don't see why I should surrender you. Your father wished us to marry----" "You go too fast, Lord Saltars. Remember Miss Lorry." Saltars would have said something more but that the door opened and Mrs. Palmer, fastening her glove, sailed in. "Not a word of the diamonds to any one," said Eva hurriedly. "Not a word," said Saltars in a low voice, then raised it gaily--"How are you, Mrs. Palmer? My cousin and I have been talking"--he looked at Eva inquiringly, his invention failing him--"About--about----" "Chinese metaphysics," said the feminine intellect. CHAPTER XIII THE OTHER WOMAN Lord Saltars spent a very enjoyable evening in the company of two pretty women. Eva had no chance of further conversation, as Mrs. Palmer made the most of her noble guest. She sang to him, she chattered to him, she did all that a lively woman could do to amuse him. In fact, it seemed to Eva as though the widow was trying to fascinate his lordship. Saltars, no fool, saw this also.