“My maid, Hester Winsome,” thought Nance to herself.
Aloud she said: “Well, lock the door, and we shall be safe.”
Crossley did so.
As he resumed his seat, he said:
“I have something of great interest to tell you, madam. I have lately arrested a man who belongs to a notorious school of burglars—he was discovered uttering a forged cheque. In searching his house I found a similar half sheet of paper to that already in my possession, with the same cipher and the same hieroglyphics.”
“Impossible!” said Nance, springing to her feet, and speaking in great excitement. “Then you have really found the man?”
“Pray sit down, Mrs. Rowton. I have not found the man, but I have found a clue which may lead to him. Now I want you to allow me take certain steps in order to make my suspicion a certainty.”
“What are they?”
“I want, with your permission, to locate a member of my staff at Rowton Heights.”
“You do! What can you possibly mean?”