At about half-past ten madame came out alone, carrying her handsome gold-mounted handbag, and in Grosvenor Square she hailed a taxi, in which she drove to a bank in Pall Mall, in order, no doubt, to obtain money for her journey.
She remained within about ten minutes or so, then, re-entering the taxi, she drove back to her hostess’s house.
A quarter of an hour later Geoffrey called to wish the gay widow au revoir, and Mrs. Beverley invited him to stay to luncheon. At about half-past eleven madame left for Victoria, her hostess going in the car to the station to see her off. Hence Sylvia and her lover were left together.
Geoffrey Falconer had become disappointed and ill at ease, for the mystery concerning the widow still remained unsolved.
Mrs. Beverley returned, and they had luncheon together, the young wireless engineer remaining all the afternoon.
Just as they were seated at tea, Shaw, the footman, brought a card to his mistress, who glanced at it, and said:
“Oh! It’s Mr. Elton! I wonder why he wants to see me? Ask him in here.”
The man bowed, and a few moments later a tall, clean-shaven business man was ushered in. In a second it was plain that he was considerably perturbed.
“Mrs. Beverley,” he said, glancing at Sylvia and Geoffrey, “I am very sorry to disturb you with a most unpleasant matter. May I see you alone?”
“Unpleasant matter!” gasped the South American woman. “What do you mean? Whatever you have to say can be said right here.”
“You have a Madame Claudet staying with you. You introduced her to me, and she opened a small account at our bank,” he said. “Well--I may as well tell you that I have the police outside, and I am here to give her into custody!”
“She called at the bank this morning, and changed seventy-four thousand five-hundred francs in French notes for English notes. These were, at noon, sent along to the head office in Lombard Street, where they have been found to be marvellously clever forgeries!”
“Impossible!” declared Mrs. Beverley, utterly staggered.
“Alas! it is only too true. The bank has lost nearly three thousand pounds.”
Then Mrs. Beverley, having explained how her late guest had left for Paris that morning, refused to believe that she could be guilty of any such fraud.