It was not, for the simple reason that Gowrie was too clever to give himself away. Mrs. Narby certainly would not depose that such a letter was waiting at the inn, therefore he placed the address at a safe distance where the police could not find it.
"I have a home in London, to which my child always writes," said he evasively, "and she wrote to me there, after I had found the inn empty of my jewel."
"Oh, go on," said Maud, impatient of this high-flown language.
"I then went to Buckinghamshire----"
"To what village do you say?"
"I'll not tell you that until I have your promise in writing to pay me the five hundred."
"You shall have it before you leave this room. But you will only get the money if Herries, I mean my cousin, is arrested."
"I ask no more," said Gowrie rubbing his hands and chuckling. "If Inspector Trent will come with me we can interrupt the marriage ceremony, which takes place to-morrow in the village church."
"So soon. And the village?"
"Wait till I have your handwriting," said Gowrie, smartly, "but to proceed with the epic. I went to this village, and saw Herries, and my daughter. He told me that he was innocent, and that he had procured a special license to marry my child. I objected, as I wanted him first to clear his name. He says he cannot do that----"