"I believe some people called her that," Tranter returned shortly.

"The woman who ruined Michael Cranbourne, son of Joshua Cranbourne, the
Nitrate King?"

"She had finished with Cranbourne before I knew her," Tranter replied.
"He was a scoundrel. Whatever happened, she certainly could not be
blamed."

The inspector was making rapid notes.

"She was not so wild as she was painted," Tranter continued. "Women with
such beauty as hers have a thousand temptations. The sins of a
beautiful woman are always many degrees blacker than the sins of a plain
one. We became very intimate--and I am afraid I allowed her to expect
more from me than I actually intended. I was called back to England
unexpectedly, and heard nothing more of her until Mr. Copplestone
brought her into this room to-night."

He stopped. Emotion had crept into his voice.

"During the most part of your conversation with her, were you walking
about, or standing still?"

"Standing still."

"You have said that you did not hear any one moving about near you while
you were speaking to her?"

"No."

"Were there trees or hedges about, where some one might have hidden to
overhear you?"

"There was a hedge," Tranter replied. "But I did not notice the spot
particularly."

"You will be able to point it out to me to-morrow."

"I think so. As I say, I did not particularly notice it--and the
possibility of being overheard certainly did not occur to me. I am
afraid at that moment caution was hardly a consideration with either of
us."

The inspector closed his note-book.

"Unless circumstances compel me to do otherwise," he promised, "I will
keep your story to myself. Will you tell me whether the announcement of
Mr. Copplestone's engagement to Miss Manderson produced a noticeable
effect on any particular person in the room? Please do not hesitate to
answer."

"It certainly appeared to be unwelcome news to Mrs. Astley-Rolfe,"
Tranter replied, "but she very quickly recovered herself."

"It seemed, in fact, to be a considerable shock to her?"

"Yes."

"Were you in the room when this young man, James Layton, burst in?"

"I was. Monsieur Dupont and I had just arrived."

"It is true that he said that rather than allow Miss Manderson to
become engaged to Mr. Copplestone, he would tear her to pieces with his
own hands?"

"Those were his exact words."

The inspector rose.

"I understand that you brought Monsieur Dupont here with you as your
friend?" h