"Yes—for the guilty one," admitted Britz.
"You have no doubt that she did the trick?" interjected Greig.
"I have no opinion in the matter," Britz informed him curtly. "I may have a most decided one, however, in an hour or so."
"Well, what do you think is going to happen now?" drawled Manning. While he guessed that Britz was setting the stage for a grand climax, he had not the remotest idea of its nature.
"She knows now that she has inherited Whitmore's fortune," said Britz with slow emphasis. "In view of what has happened to-day, there is but one obvious course for her to pursue. She may do it indirectly, through attorneys. She may elect to do it herself. We shall see."
It was an unsatisfying explanation, revealing nothing of the detective's hidden purpose. But Manning was unable to entice a more explicit statement from his subordinate. So he instructed a detective to proceed to Ward's office and direct the policemen on guard there to withdraw to their precinct station.
"I'm burning up with curiosity," acknowledged the chief, "but I suppose I shall have to wait until you're ready to confide what you're about."
"You'll not have to wait very long," Britz promised. "It's a case now of instant success or instant failure."
Gathering the documents which had been recovered from the butler, Britz deposited them on a small table at the other end of the room.
"You may tie them up and send them to Beard," he instructed Greig. "We'll hold the butler for the present. He may be of use."