"Ha! that's just it! I fancy this is a case of blackmail. If you remember, a millionaire's body was stolen in America some few years ago, and only restored to the family on payment by them of a very large sum of money." "Oh, that is what you think he is after?" "Yes, I do. It is highly probable, I think, that in a few weeks, or perhaps even in less time, we shall receive a letter demanding some thousands for the return of the body." "But surely the police----" "Oh, Mr. Brown will look after all that. You may depend upon it he'll make himself quite safe before he goes that far. So talented a gentleman as he would not be likely to omit all necessary precautions of that kind." "Humph!" muttered Mr. Phelps, considering, "and of Mrs. Warrender's suspicious flight, what think you?" "I confess I don't know quite what to make of that. I have no great opinion of her as a woman; still, I should hardly credit her with being in league with this ruffian." "No, indeed; for that, she must needs be the worst of women," said Mr. Phelps with warmth. "Why, Alan, poor Warrender was simply crazy about her. He worked day and night to provide her with the finery she craved for. Besides, she seemed really fond of him." "Who was she?" asked Alan bluntly. "Well, I shouldn't like to say it to every one, Alan, but Mrs. Warrender had been an actress." "An actress! Under what name?" "That I cannot tell you. I called there one day and I heard her reciting Shakespeare. Her elocution seemed to me so fine that I complimented her upon it. Then she told me that she had been on the stage, and had retired when she married Warrender." "That's very strange! I always thought she had somewhat of a professional manner about her." "And her hair, Alan! _Flava coma_--yellow hair; not that I mean, for one moment, she was what the Romans referred to by these words. Well, my boy, what is to be done now?" "I am going up to London in an hour's time." Alan glanced at his watch while speaking. "But you'll miss seeing Blair, the inspector," remonstrated Mr. Phelps. "I'll see him when I return: you can explain the case as well as I, sir. I shall bring Gramp back with me if I can manage it." "And Mrs. Warrender--shall I tell Blair about her?" "I fear you must. But let him be circumspect. It is not necessary to take any steps against her until we are tolerably sure of the reason for her sudden flight. When do they hold the inquest on Warrender?" "To-morrow." "Well, I'll be back to-night and tell you what I've done." And Alan rose to go. "One moment, my dear boy. What about Sophy?" "I've seen her, and, of course, I was judicious in what I told her. She knows nothing about the loss of the key and my suspicions of Brown, although, funnily enough, she herself suspects him." "Bless me! on what grounds can she do that?" "Oh, on the purely feminine grounds that she suspects him. She declares she will not marry me until her father's body is discovered."