"What I saw may be of no consequence, but I will just tell you what it was, and what it suggested to me. The window was open, and the leaves of a laurel shrub just outside were dripping with wet. A little way in the room was an empty basin, and on the floor by the side was a pile of books. They might have been there by accident, but it seemed to me as if they had been purposely placed there to hide something—possibly a stain on the floor. Before I could move any of them to see, I was disturbed."
"By Mr. Brown?"
"By Mr. Brown and Sir Allan Beaumerville."
"Did you gather from his appearance that he was alarmed at finding you there?"
Helen shook her head.
"No. He was surprised, certainly, but that was natural. I cannot say that he looked alarmed."
Mr. Benjamin put away his notes and turned round on his stool.
"A word or two with regard to the business part of this matter, Miss Thurwell. Are you prepared to spend a good deal of money?"
"If it is necessary, yes."
"Very good. Then I will give you a sketch of my plans. We have agents in Paris, Vienna, Venice, and other towns, whom I shall at once employ in tracing out Sir Geoffrey Kynaston's life abroad, concerning which I already have some useful information. During the rest of the day I shall make inquiries about Mr. Brown in London. To-morrow I shall be prepared to come down to Thurwell in any capacity you suggest."