Mercia turned the scale in their own favour by substantiating her mother's declaration.

  "Surely you have told us horrors enough to know that we shouldn't be squeamish about hearing the rest?" she said bravely. "That a mystery exists and a very sinister one is obvious to even the meanest intelligence. If you won't tell us, Mr. Delbury, you leave us no other alternative than to make personal application to Scotland Yard itself, a recourse which would be extremely unpleasant for me to take, but one which I should not have the slightest hesitation in doing."

  "Delbury sighed and brushed his fingers through his hair.

"Very well, ladies," he said, in a tone of regretful resignation. "But whatever I tell you, I insist, is told you with the underlying proviso that it may not be true."

Mrs. Lyall inclined her head the merest fraction.

"perhaps you could help me in the matter," said Delbury, running swiftly over his notes. "can you remember with