tenable, legally or morally.

He would be adamant with Forbes, and decline to countenance any plea
in support of continued silence. If Forbes's demand was reasonable,
Scotland Yard would grant it. If justice compelled Forbes to come out
into the open, no private citizen should attempt to defeat the ends of
justice.

"So that settles it," announced Theydon rmly if not cheerfully. "I'll
ring up Forbes, and get the thing over and done with. I'll never see
his daughter again, I suppose, but that can't be helped. 'tis better
to have seen and lost than never to have seen at all."

He turned from the window, walked to the fireplace, tapped his pipe
firmly on the grate, and was about to go into the hall and call up the
telephone exchange, when the door-bell rang. He was aware of a muffled
conversation between Bates and a visitor. Then the valet appeared,
obviously ill at ease.

"If you please, sir," he announced, "a lady, a Miss Beale, of Oxford,
who says she is Mrs. Lester's aunt, wishes to see you."

Theydon was immensely surprised, as well he might be. But there was
only one thing to be done.

"Show her in," he said.

Miss Beale entered. She was slight of figure, middle-aged and
gray-haired. The wanness of her thin features was accentuated by an
attire of deep mourning, but the pallor in her cheeks fled for an