Listening intently, he made out a fragment of the conversation, sufficient to remove all doubts of the origin of the detective's present visit.

Austin's mind flew to the episode he had seen from his window on the previous afternoon.

Why in the name of heaven had this Brierly woman been such a fool?
Why had she not come to him with her story, and asked for money to shut her mouth?
Why was she sobbing and snivelling downstairs now, when it was too late?
.