"Man," she said, grandly, "let me introduce myself. Mrs. Herries!" she bowed. "Mr. Herries!" she repeated the performance. "I am Mrs. Mountford, the companion of Miss Maud Tedder."
"Yes," said Angus rather coldly, "and may I ask why you have come here, Mrs. Mountford?"
"To appeal to you on behalf of your cousin. She has been wrongfully dispossessed by her father, and--"
"Pardon me, Mrs. Mountford, but I am unable to enter into this question at present. Until I discover who killed my uncle, I am not in possession of the property."
"And what if I can help you to discover the assassin?"
"What! You know----?"
"I know nothing, but I have grave suspicions."
"Of whom?"
Mrs. Mountford did not reply immediately. She sank into a chair, and arranged herself like a queen. Gowrie stood beside her with folded hands and looked at her majestic form satirically. Elspeth sat beside Angus, and waited to hear what this formidable looking dame had to say.
"I came here with Mr. Gowrie," said the ex-governess, "as he has had some difficulty with Miss Tedder."