"I have been trying to communicate with Mr. Forbes, but his daughter
tells me that the murder of your niece seems to have affected him in a
manner which is incomprehensible to her, and even more so to me,
though I am acquainted with facts which her father and I have
purposely kept from her knowledge. Mr. Forbes has gone hurriedly to
the Home Office. I suppose you know what that means? He is about to
give the Home Secretary certain information, and it is not for you or
me to interfere with his discretion. Now, if you tell the Scotland
Yard people what you have told me, namely, that Mr. Forbes was the
intermediary through whom Mrs. Lester received the greater part of her
income, he will be brought prominently into the inquiry. You see that,
don't you?"

"Yes. I suppose that something of the sort must happen."

"Well, I want you to suppress that vital fact until we know more about
this affair. It will not be for long. Each of us must tell our story
without reservation at some future date-- whether this afternoon, or
tomorrow, or a week hence, I cannot say now. But I do ask you to keep
your knowledge to yourself until I have had an opportunity of
consulting Mr. Forbes. I undertake to tell you the exact position of
matters without delay, and I accept all responsibility for my present
advice."

"I know little of the world, Mr. Theydon," said Miss Beale, rising,
and beginning to draw on her gloves, "but I shall be very greatly
surprised if you are advising me to act otherwise than honorably. I
shall certainly not utter a word about Mr. Forbes at Scotland Yard.
When all is said and done, my statement to you was largely guesswork.
You must remember that I have never seen Mr. Forbes, nor hardly ever