“Then why do you wish me to help you?” demanded Miss Greeby sharply.

“How do I wish you to help me, you mean.”

“Not at all.  I know what you wish me to do; act as detective; I know about it, my dear boy.”

“You don’t,” retorted Lambert, again fractious.  “But if you listen I’ll tell you exactly what I mean.”

Miss Greeby made herself comfortable with a fresh cigarette, and nodded in an easy manner, “I’m all attention, old boy.  Fire away!”

“You must regard my confidence as sacred.”

“There’s my hand on it.  But I should like to know why you desire to learn who murdered Pine.”

“Because if you don’t track down the assassin, Agnes will get into trouble.”

“Ho!” ejaculated Miss Greeby, guttural again.  “Go on.”

Lambert wasted no further time in preliminary explanations, but plunged into the middle of things.  In a quarter of an hour his auditor was acquainted with the facts of a highly unpleasant case, but exhibited no surprise when she heard what her secretary had to do with the matter.  In fact, she rather appeared to admire his acuteness in turning such shady knowledge to his own advantage.  At the same time, she considered that Agnes had behaved in a decidedly weak manner.  “If I’d been in her shoes I’d have fired the beast out in double-quick time,” said Miss Greeby grimly.  “And I’d have belted him over the head in addition.”

“Then he would have gone straight to the police.”

“Oh, no he wouldn’t.  One thousand reward against twenty-five thousand blackmail isn’t good enough.”

“He won’t get his blackmail,” said Lambert, tightening his lips.

“You bet he won’t now that I’ve come into the matter.  But there’s no denying he’s got the whip-hand so far.”

“Agnes never wrote the letter,” said Lambert quickly.

“Oh, that goes without the saying, my dear fellow.  Agnes knew that if she became a rich widow, your uneasy sense of honor would never let you marry her.  She had no reason to get rid of Pine on that score.”

“Or on any score, you may add.”

Miss Greeby nodded.  “Certainly!  You and Agnes should have got married and let Garvington get out of his troubles as best he could.  That’s what I should have done, as I’m not an aristocrat, and can’t see the use of becoming the sacrifice for a musty, fusty old family.  However, Agnes made her bargain and kept to it.  She’s all right, although other people may be not of that opinion.”

“There isn’t a man or woman who dare say a word against Agnes.”

“A good many will say lots of words, should what you have told me get into print,” rejoined Miss Greeby dryly.

“I agree with you.  Therefore do I ask for your assistance.  What is best to be done, Clara?”

“We must get the letter from Silver and learn who forged it.  Once that is made plain, the truth will come to light, since the individual who forged and sent that letter must have fired the second shot.”