f course," said Mr. Carrington.

"And he has kept the business so entirely in his own hands. If we had run
in any one else, he'd have come forward and sworn that he heard Loudwater
snore after Roper had seen that person leave the Castle. I'm beginning to
think that he's one of the most able murderers I ever heard of. I
certainly never came across one in my own experience who was a patch on
him," said Mr. Flexen.

"Don't be in such a hurry to lose hope. There must be some way of getting
at him--there must be," said Mr. Carrington obstinately.

"I'm glad to hear it," said Mr. Flexen in a tone of utter scepticism.

They walked on, Mr. Flexen reflecting on Mr. Manley's ability, Mr.
Carrington cudgelling his brains for a method of bringing his crime home
to him. At the door of his office Mr. Flexen held out his hand.

"Come along in. I've got an idea," said Mr. Carrington.

CHAPTER XVII

Mr. Flexen shrugged his shoulders with a sceptical air. He had not formed
a high opinion of Mr. Carrington's intelligence. However, he followed him
into his office and sat down, ready to give him his best attention.

Mr. Carrington wore a really hopeful expression, and he said: "My idea is
that we should get at Manley through Mrs. Manley."

"I'm not at all keen on getting at a man through his wife," said Mr.
Flexen rather dolefully. "But in this case it's manifestly our duty to
leave nothing untried. Murder for money is murder for money."

"I should think it _was_ our duty!" cried Mr. Carrington with emphasis.

"And there are three innocent people under suspicion of having committed
the murder. Fire away. How is it to be done?" said Mr. Flexen.

"The new Lord Loudwater must bring an action against Mrs. Manley for the
return of that twelve thousand pounds on the ground that it was obtained
from the late Lord Loudwater by fraud--as it certainly was," said Mr.
Carrington, leaning forward with shining eyes and speaking very
distinctly.

"I see," said Mr. Flexen. But his expression was not hopeful.

"Once we get her in the witness-box we establish the fact that Lord
Loudwater had made up his mind to halve her allowance, for she'll have to
give the reason for her visiting him so late that night; and so we get
Manley's motive for committing the murder also established."

"I see. But will you be able to use her evidence in the first trial at
the second?" said Mr. Flexen doubtfully.

"That's the idea," said Mr. Carrington tri