inquiries into irregularities of
accounts would come first to my department, and he wanted to have
somebody there who would let him know. He did not betray this thought,"
said the girl, "but I guessed that that was the idea at the back of his
mind...."

She went on to tell him something of the life she had lived, the
humiliation she suffered in her knowledge of the despicable part she was
playing.

"From the first I was an accessory," she said. "It is true that I did not
steal, but my reason for accepting the post was in order to enable him,
as I thought, to right a grievous wrong and to save my mother from the
shame and misery which would follow the exposure of Milburgh's real
character."

She looked at him with a sad little smile.

"I hardly realise that I am speaking to a detective," she said, "and all
that I have suffered during these past years has been in vain; but the
truth must come now, whatever be the consequences."

She paused.

"And now I am going to tell you what happened on the night of the
murder."

CHAPTER XXVI

IN MRS. RIDER'S ROOM

There was a deep silence. Tarling could feel his heart thumping almost
noisily.

"After I had left Lyne's Store," she said, "I had decided to go to mother
to spend two or three days with her before I began looking for work. Mr.
Milburgh only went to Hertford for the weekends, and I couldn't stay in
the same house with him, knowing all that I knew.

"I left my flat at about half-past six that evening, but I am not quite
sure of the exact time. It must have been somewhere near then, because I
was going to catch the seven o'clock train to Hertford. I arrived at the
station and had taken my ticket, and was stooping to pick up my bag, when
I felt a hand on my arm, and turning, saw Mr. Milburgh. He was in a state
of great agitation and distress, and asked me to take a later train and
accompany him to the Florentine Restaurant, where he had taken a private
room. He told me he had very bad news and that I must know.

"I put my bag in the cloak-room and went off with him, and over the
dinner--I only had a cup of tea, as a matter of fact--he told me that he
was on the verge of ruin. He said that Mr. Lyne had sent for a detective
(which was you), and had the intention of exposing him, only Mr. Lyne's
rage against me was so great, that for the moment he was diverted from
his purpose.

"'Only you can save me,' said Milburgh.

"'I?' I said in astonishment, 'ho