When Gerard, who had left us in the ball-room, returned to say that Madame Bonnell was ready to receive us, the French detective retained his seat. The other three of us were conducted into a smartly furnished parlour in which we found Madame enthroned in all the dignity of her new position. She had put on mourning for her late employer, but it was the sort of mourning a good modiste knows how to make a softener of grief rather than a perpetuation of it.
Madame Bonnell showed no trace of nervousness at our appearance. Like a good general, she had gauged her enemy in advance, she had anticipated his attack, and her plans of defence had been skilfully laid out. She received us in the manner of a courteous business woman who was only anxious to do whatever was asked of her.
I was conscious that my chief’s keen eyes were on the look-out for any sign of recognition between Madame and me, as I came into the room. Fortunately she scarcely noticed me, and I think her indifference must have finally satisfied him that we were strangers to each other.
He came straight to the point.
“We have called on you, Madame, in consequence of the advertisement from Messrs. James, Halliday & James.”
She heard this with composure. “What advertisement is that?”
Tarleton ignored the affectation of ignorance.
“It may save time to tell you that every person known to have been in correspondence with Dr. Weathered has been warned to take no notice of that advertisement.” It was evidently news to her that the names of the correspondents were known to the police, and she looked less confident already. “Mr. Stillman has been informed that Dr. Weathered’s executrix is the sole person entitled to deal with the letters, and he has now consented to allow a detective officer to sit in his outer office and refer any persons who may answer the advertisement to me. The same officer is opening all letters addressed to the firm.”
By this time Madame Bonnell must have made up her mind that she had little chance of making anything out of the letters and that it was better for her to sacrifice them if she could do so without damage to herself.
“What has all this to do with me?” she asked cautiously.