I daresay she could give a very good reason for all this--but who's got any right to ask her for one?
Not me, certainly!" He had no intention of asking Miss Slade anything when he left the City for Bayswater that evening, but chance threw him into her immediate company in one of the lounges, where, after dinner, they met at a table on which the evening newspapers were laid out.

As Miss Slade picked up one, Appleyard picked up another--certain big, strong letters on the front sheets of both gave him an opening.
"Have you read anything about this affair ?" he asked, with apparent carelessness, pointing to a row of capitals.

"This extraordinary murder-robbery business which is becoming the talk of the town?
Murders of three people--theft of nearly three hundred thousand pounds' worth of jewels--and fifty thousand pounds reward! It's colossal!" Miss Slade, without showing the slightest shade of interest, shook her head.
"I don't read murders," she answered.

"Fifty thousand pounds reward! That's an awful lot, isn't it ?" "Worth trying for, anyway!" replied Appleyard.

He gave her a sly look, and smiled grimly.