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If not, you may be interested to know that I succeeded in obtaining the man's acquittal." "I know that you did," the woman replied. "I was in the Court when the verdict was brought in. It has since occurred to me that I should like you to understand exactly what you have done, the responsibility you have incurred." Ledsam raised his eyebrows. "Responsibility?" he repeated.
She was entirely mistress of herself and the occasion. Sir Timothy's face was cold and terrible. "I must apologise for this second intrusion, Mr. Ledsam," he said cuttingly. "I think you will admit that the circumstances warrant it. Am I to understand that you lied to me this morning?" "You are to understand nothing of the sort," Francis answered.
"Can you solve a puzzle for me, Mr. Ledsam?" "I would do anything for you that I could," he answered. "Tell me, then, why my father asked you here to-night? I can understand his bringing you to the opera, that was just a whim of the moment, but an invitation down here savours of deliberation.
Sir Timothy had begun to talk about the opera but Francis was a little distrait. His companion glanced at him curiously. "You are puzzled, Mr. Ledsam?" he remarked. "Very," was the prompt response. Sir Timothy smiled. "You are one of these primitive Anglo-Saxons," he said, "who can see the simple things with big eyes, but who are terribly worried at an unfamiliar constituent.
"Because," she answered calmly, as she rose to her feet, "my evidence would not have been admissible. I am Oliver Hilditch's wife." Francis Ledsam arrived at his club, the Sheridan, an hour later than he had anticipated.
Every now and then Sir Timothy was compelled to shake hands with some of his newly-arriving guests. At last, however, they reached the little sitting-room. Sir Timothy turned back to Wilmore, who hesitated. "You had better come in, too, Mr. Wilmore, if you will," he invited. "You were with Ledsam, the first day we met, and something which I have to say now may interest you."
Francis, after a pleasant lunch at Ranelagh, and having arranged with Margaret to dine with her in Curzon Street, spent an hour or two that afternoon at his chambers. As he was leaving, just before five, he came face to face with Shopland descending from a taxi. "Are you busy, Mr. Ledsam?" the latter enquired. "Can you spare me half-an-hour?" "An hour, if you like," Francis assented.
Shopland closed the door behind him. Sir Timothy waited until he heard his departing footsteps. Then he turned back to Francis. "Mr. Ledsam," he said, "I have come to ask you if you know anything of my daughter's whereabouts?" "Nothing whatever," Francis replied. "I was on the point of ringing you up to ask you the same question." "Did she tell you that she was leaving The Sanctuary?"
Sir Timothy smiled. "Ah!" he said. "You know the young lady, without a doubt. Mr. Shopland, your coadjutor in various works of philanthropy, you recognise, of course? I do not mind confessing to you, Ledsam, that I am very much afraid of Mr. Shopland. I am not at all sure that he has not a warrant for my arrest in his pocket." The detective came a little further into the light.
"Let us forget it for a moment. Of the minor things I will make you my judge. Ledsam and Margaret are coming to my party to-morrow night. You, too, shall be my guest. Such secrets as lie on the other side of that wall shall be yours.
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