e has been in Marseilles. Have you heard
from him?"

"Not a word," the girl replied. "And, Mr. Shrimpton, I am growing
very concerned. I really can't think that he tried to kill the young
Frenchwoman. Why should he?"

"Well, because she had connived at his father's death. That seems to be
proved."

"Then your theory is that it was an act of vengeance?"

"Exactly, Miss Ranscomb. That is our opinion, and a warrant being out
for his arrest both in France and in England, we are doing all we can to
get him."

"But are you certain?" asked the girl, much distressed. "After all,
though on the face of things it seems that there is a distinct motive, I
do not think that Hugh would be guilty of such a thing."

"Naturally. Forgive me for saying so, miss, but I quite appreciate your
point of view. If I were in your place I should regard the matter in
just the same light. I, however, wondered whether you had heard news of
him during the last day or two."

"No. I have heard nothing."

"And," he said, "I suppose if you did hear, you would not tell me?"

"That is my own affair, Mr. Shrimpton," she replied resentfully. "If you
desire to arrest Mr. Henfrey it is your own affair. Why do you ask me to
assist you?"

"In the interests of justice," was the inspector's reply.

"Well," said the girl, very promptly, "I tell you at once that I refuse
to assist you in your endeavour to arrest Mr. Henfrey. Whether he is
guilty or not guilty I have not yet decided."

"But he must be guilty. There was the motive. He shot the woman who had
enticed his father to his death."

"And how have you ascertained that?"

"By logical deduction."

"Then you are trying to convict Mr. Henfrey upon circumstantial evidence
alone?"

"Others have gone to the gallows on circumstantial evidence--Crippen,
for instance. There was no actual witness of his crime."

"I fear I must allow you to continue your investigations, Mr.
Shrimpton," she said coldly.

"But your lover has deceived you. He was staying down in Surrey with the
girl, Miss Lambert, as his fellow-guest."

"I know that," was Dorise's reply. "But I have since come to the
conclusion that my surmise--my jealousy if you like to call it so--is
unfounded."

"Ah! then you refuse to assist justice?"

"No, I do not. But knowing nothing of the circumstances I do not see how
I can assist you."

"But no doubt you know that Mr. Henfrey evaded us and went away--that he
was assisted by a man whom