s. Engledew. "An open cheque will
do. And, don't you see, that, I think, proves the _bona fides_ of the
men. If they fail to do what they say they can and will do, you can stop
payment of that cheque first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes, that's so," agreed Selwood. He glanced at Peggie, who was
silently listening with deep interest. "I don't know how things stand,"
he went on. "Mr. Halfpenny, Miss Wynne's solicitor, lives a long way out
of town. Miss Wynne would doubtless cheerfully sacrifice ten thousand
pounds to save her cousin----"

"Oh, twenty thousand--anything!" exclaimed Peggie. "Don't let us
hesitate about money, please."

"But I don't know whether she can draw a cheque," continued Selwood. "At
least, for such an amount as that. Perhaps Professor Cox-Raythwaite can
tell us. Let me ask you a question or two, if you please, Mrs.
Engledew," he went on. "You say you only know one of these men. Do you
know his name?"

"No--I don't," confessed Mrs. Engledew. "Everything is secret and
mysterious."

"Are you convinced--has he done anything to convince you--of his good
faith?"

"Yes--absolutely!"

"You don't doubt his--their--ability to clear all this up?"

"I'm quite sure they can clear it up."

"Have you any idea as to the identity of the real murderer?"

"Not the least!"

"One more question, then," concluded Selwood. "Are the police to be
there when Cox-Raythwaite and I come tonight?"

"That I don't know," replied Mrs. Engledew. "All I know is--just what I
am ordered to say. Pay them the money--they will tell the truth and take
you and the police to the real criminal. One more thing--it is
understood that you will not approach the police between now and this
evening. That part--the police part--is to be left to them."

"I understand," said Selwood. "Very well--we will get out, if you
please, and we will go straight to Professor Cox-Raythwaite. At two
o'clock I shall ring you up and give you our answer."

He hurried Peggie into a taxi-cab as soon as Mrs. Engledew's car had
gone away, and they went hastily to Endsleigh Gardens, where Professor
Cox-Raythwaite listened to the strange story in dead silence.

"Mrs. Engledew--lady living in Herapath Flats--old friend of
Jacob's--possessed letters of his--instrument for two men in possession of
secret--willing to fork out a thousand of her own," he muttered. "Gad!--I
take that to be genuine, Selwood! The only question is for Peggie
here--does she wish to