"But my father didn't leave me a penny," said Eva.
"That's what I wish to see you about," said Saltars earnestly. "I heard from Mrs. Palmer's friends that you were without money, and were her companion, so I wrote asking to come to-night. I want to be your friend and help you. You ought to have forty thousand pounds."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I saw your father twice before he was killed: within the last six weeks. He told me that he had brought home forty thousand pounds. Twice he told me that; but he did not say how it was invested. I expect his lawyer, Mask, can tell you. He's my lawyer too."
"Mr. Mask told me that I inherited no money."
"Yet your father saw him," said the perplexed Saltars.
"I know he did; but he said nothing about forty thousand pounds. I know that he told Mr. Mask he would place some money in his keeping, without mentioning the amount, but he never did so."
"Didn't you find the money in his portmanteau or box, or----?"
"We found nothing; nor did we find any papers mentioning that such a sum of money was in existence."
"Then he must have been robbed of it, when dead."