ngs
more clearly. It was a full five minutes before he spoke again as one
making an assertion rather than asking a question.

"That would be Lola, of course." His blue eyes met Grell's frown with an
ingenuous stare. "This is beginning to get clearer, Mr. Grell.
Goldenburg was blackmailing you, eh? Maybe he had letters which you
wouldn't have liked Lady Eileen to see--what?"

An ejaculation came from Grell. The detective directed his gaze to a
picture opposite him, and continued, as though thinking aloud--

"Now I come to think of it, was Goldenburg a relative of yours? The
likeness is amazing. Well, suppose, for the sake of argument, he was.
And Lola--where does Lola stand? Was it to her, by any chance, that the
letters were directed? Was she merely a friend, or did she stand in
closer relationship to either of you?"

Grell yawned ostentatiously, but although Foyle had been apparently
looking away from him he had followed the effect on the other's face of
every one of the seemingly casual questions he had put.

"I am afraid I am boring you. It's a bad habit, thinking aloud."

"It does seem futile," agreed Grell. "You surely have little need to
exercise yourself about these things."

"Ah, you think so? I am beginning to think that something more is
necessary. It may be--of course, this is only for the sake of
illustration--that the dagger was handled by some one after the murder
had occurred. However, let the subject drop. Perhaps your housekeeper
will get us some breakfast while one of the girls runs into Dalehurst."

While waiting for a reply, he rang the bell and gave some directions,
with a note to the housekeeper. The breakfast that she ultimately served
up was a credit to her skill as a cook. Both men ate with an appetite
that the unusual nature of the situation did not destroy, though Grell
found the handcuffs troublesome.

The superintendent laid down his knife with a sigh of content.

The sound of a motor-car horn was borne faintly in upon them. In a few
minutes the housekeeper ushered Green and Malley into the room. The
chief inspector returned Foyle's greetings and flung his heavy overcoat
on to a chair. His eyes wandered over the prisoner with a little
pardonable curiosity. Grell bore the inspection with a smile.

"I congratulate you, sir," said Green. "We'll have the thing fairly
straightened out in a day or two now."

"I hope so," said Foyle. "Mr. Malley, will you stay with this gentleman
for