"I know. All the more credit to her. But we can discuss this on some more fitting occasion. Meantime we must talk of your father. I don't see why you shouldn't see him," said Mask musingly.
"Give me his address."
"Humph," said the lawyer, smiling slightly. "I'll see. But about this murder? Your father did not kill the man."
"No," said Allen sharply, "I swear he did not."
"Quite so. Well, who did, and what was the motive?"
"Robbery was the motive," said Allen, taking a letter out of his pocket. "Read this, I received it from Miss Strode."
Mask took the letter, but did not read it immediately. "I don't believe the motive was robbery," he declared deliberately; "Strode had little money. He certainly brought a hundred or so from Africa and I cashed his letters of credit."
"Did you give him the money in notes?"
"Yes; and what is more I have the numbers of the notes. I see what you mean: you fancy the notes were stolen and that the criminal can thus be traced."
"Read the letter," said Allen impatiently.