"Yes, I was," she said frankly. "It didn't seem like him. But since I've wondered whether he had made up his mind to commit suicide and wished to leave things quite straight."
It was a plausible theory, but Mr. Flexen did not believe that Lord
Loudwater had committed suicide.
"I suppose that your husband knows all about it?" he said at random.
"He may, and he may not. He hasn't said anything to me about it," she said.
"Then we may take it that he did not write the letter of instruction to the bankers," said Mr. Flexen.
"Oh, he might have done and still have said nothing about it. He has a very sensitive delicacy and might have thought it my business and not his. I haven't told him about the twelve thousand pounds yet. I don't bother him about business matters. In fact, I'm going to manage his business as well as my own."
"And he didn't know about the allowance?" said Mr. Flexen.
"Oh, yes, he did. I told him all about that," said Helena quickly.
Mr. Flexen paused, considering. He seemed to have learnt from her all she had to tell.
There came the sound of the opening of the door of the flat and of steps in the hall. Then the door of the room opened, and Mr. Manley came in. Mr. Flexen's eyes swept over him. He was looking cheerful, prosperous, and rather sleek. His air had grown even more important and assured.