cheque you
cashed, or whether you put his signature to it yourself?"

Her lips moved dumbly and the room seemed to quiver around her. Finely
as she had held herself in control hitherto, she was now thoroughly
unnerved. She covered her face with her hands, and her frail figure
shook with dry sobs. Foyle waited patiently for the outburst to pass.
Suddenly she sprang to her feet and faced him with clenched hands.

"Yes, I did sign it," she blazed. "My father was out, and I wanted the
money at once. He will not mind--he would have given it to me had he
been here."

He checked her with a deprecating movement of his hand. "Don't excite
yourself, please," he said soothingly. "I felt bound to let you see
there was a serious reason why I should press you to give an account of
your movements to-day. Sit down quietly for a moment."

He waited patiently while she resumed her seat. He had foreseen that
while she was on her guard he was unlikely either by threats or coaxing
to induce her to speak. The hint of forgery had been deliberately
intended to throw her off her balance. She could not know that her
blotting-pad had betrayed that and more. Nor could she know that without
the evidence of her father and the bank officials--neither of which was
likely to be willingly given in the circumstances--she was not amenable
to a criminal charge. "Will you tell me now why you were so anxious to
obtain that money--why you could not wait for an hour or two until your
father returned? Don't hurry yourself. Think. Remember that I shall be
able to check what you say."

"I--I----" She choked and gulped as if swallowing something.

"Will it help you if I tell you that two of the notes which were given
in exchange for the cheque were changed at a tailor's shop at Kingston,
where a rough-looking man bought an overcoat and a suit of clothes?"

"You--know--that?" she gasped, the words coming slowly one by one from
her lips. The accuracy of his knowledge, and the swiftness with which it
must have been gained both astonished and astounded her.

"I know that," he repeated. "And I know more. I know, for instance, that
Mr. Grell went to Sir Ralph Fairfield before applying to you. Did he
tell you that?" He waited, but she made no answer. "I know too that he
has left London. You know where he is making for. Where is it?"

Slowly she shook her head. "I can't tell you," she cried vehemently.
"You cannot force me to. He is an innocent man. You know he i