"How recently have you seen her?"
"Stella? Not for over a month—perhaps longer than that."
Manton took Enid by the arm. It was evidently her first visit to the apartment and he was anxious to show her his various treasures.
Millard, Kennedy, and I found a corner affording a view out over the Hudson. After Kennedy had described, briefly, the circumstances of Stella's death, at Millard's insistence, he produced the note he had found in her handbag. The author recognized it at once, without reading it.
"Yes, I wrote that!" Then just a trace of emotion crept into his voice.
"I was too late," he murmured.
"What was it you wanted to say?" Kennedy inquired.
Millard's glance traveled to Manton and Enid, a troubled something in his expression. I could see that the promoter was making the most of his tete-a-tete with the girl, but she seemed perfectly at ease and quite capable of handling the man, and I, certainly, was more disturbed at the interest of Millard.
"I thought there was something about the business I ought to tell
Stella," he answered, finally. "Manton Pictures is pretty shaky."
"Oh! Then Manton wasn't talking for effect when he told Miss Faye that the company was broke?"
"No, indeed! In fact, didn't Enid make her agreement with Manton personally? That's what I advised her to do."