"Has she any better side? If so, I should be glad to know it. But I wish I knew where your father is at present. Señora Guzman is aware of his hiding-place, but she won't tell."
"Why is he hiding?" asked Browne, very directly. "Really, I don't know. He can't be in any trouble, or he would have said so in his letter."
"The letter that was posted at Tarhaven," said Elspeth, who had risen from the table, and was thinking deeply. "Angus, I should not be surprised to learn that my father was on board the yacht."
"By Jove, it's very probable, Elspeth. Kyles was ashore this morning according to Sweetlips, so Gowrie probably gave him the letter to post. That was why it did not bear the Desleigh post mark. But why should he have boarded the yacht."
No one could answer this very pertinent question, but Browne ventured an explanation.
"I believe that all this is a conspiracy to get that four thousand pounds. I wouldn't pay Kyles a cent, Herries."
"Then how am I to clear up the mystery of the murder, and get the money, Browne? I must make some move, as I can't live here on you all the days of my life. Four thousand pounds is worth paying, if by Kyles' information I can get fifty thousand a year."
"Quite so, but if Kyles is guilty he won't accuse himself."
"Why not? He won't see me ashore, but on the yacht. He can say what he likes and then steam away with the money."
"And you will let him," said Elspeth, indignantly.
"No!" said her husband, putting on his hat, "I'll see Trent to-morrow, and inform him of the proposed meeting. After I get the truth,--whatever it may be,--out of Kyles, Trent can come on board and arrest the guilty person."
"Captain Kyles," ventured Browne, but not very eagerly.
"It may be one or the other, or neither," retorted Herries, "meanwhile I'm off."
"To see Inspector Trent?" said Elspeth accompanying him to the door.
"No. I won't see him until I have a note saying what time I am to go on board the yacht. I must interview Ritson about the money."
This Herries did, after he had thought well over the position of affairs, which was decidedly perplexing. Ritson gasped when he heard all that Herries knew, and appeared to take the same view as Browne had done.
"I believe that Kyles is guilty," he said, in a profoundly certain tone, "and that being the case, why pay him four thousand pounds?"