Yet he confidently told his employer that it was an important link in the chain and might possibly convict the murderer. It seemed a very trifling thing to Captain Ernscliffe, who had not learned by grave experience what simple things might lead to great results. It was only a woman's handkerchief of plain white linen that he had found outside the western door, wet and soiled where it had lain on the damp earth all night. Only a woman's handkerchief, but it was marked in one corner with a name--the simple name of "Elsie Gray." Queenie started when she heard what the detective had said about the handkerchief. She sent for him immediately. "Do you believe that there was a woman in complicity with the man who murdered my unfortunate sister?" she inquired. "Madam, I cannot tell you," he answered. "She may have been in complicity with him or she may have been a chance witness. Anyhow I am bound to find Elsie Gray." "I can give you this much information about her," was the startling reply. "Elsie Gray was my maid, and she has been missing ever since the hour of the murder." "Elsie Gray your maid!" exclaimed the detective. "That throws new light on the matter. Can you account for her disappearance?" "Not at all. She was in the habit of going to the theater every night with me to help me to change my costumes for the different scenes. She went with me that night, but when I went to my room after the first act she was not there. I have never seen her since." "Had she any grudge against you?" "None that I am aware of. She was a good-natured, middle-aged woman, and appeared to be attached to me." The detective took out pencil and paper. "Will you describe her appearance to me, Mrs. Ernscliffe?" he said, courteously. Queenie started and blushed at being addressed by her husband's name. She had not yet decided whether she would return to him again or not, but she complied with the detective's request and minutely described her maid's appearance. He carefully noted it down, bowed and withdrew. He reported what he had learned to Captain Ernscliffe, who bade him go ahead and spare neither pains nor expense until he had discovered the murderer. * * * * * In the meantime the wide-spread notoriety of the whole affair was very distressing to Mrs. Lyle and the Valentines, and to Queenie and Lawrence Ernscliffe as well. They could not bear to remain in London. Lord Valentine took his wife and mother-in-law to Italy for an indefinite sojourn. Lawrence Ernscliffe begged his wife to let him take her back to America to the beautiful home he had prepared for her reception three years before. "It does not seem right to return to you and be happy after--after that terrible tragedy," she objected.