Mrs. Piper was genuinely moved and excited.  She felt that Providence, in whom she only believed when she was in trouble, had done her a good turn.  For a moment or two she remained silent, thinking intently, wondering whether she dared take advantage of this extraordinary chance—­a chance that might never occur again.

“I take it, sir,” she said at last, “that you are a friend of Mrs. Crofton’s?”

“Of course I am well acquainted with the lady you name.”  There came a tone of reserve, instantly detected by the woman’s quick ear and quicker mind, into the speaker’s voice.  “And I had a great regard for your husband’s late employer, Colonel Crofton,” he added.

“Aye, ’e was a good gentleman and no mistake,” said Mrs. Piper feelingly.

She was wondering how far she dare go.  She knew the man walking by her side was very rich; Piper had called him a millionaire.

“I ’ope you won’t think me troublesome, sir, if I tells you ’ow matters are between Mrs. Crofton and my ’usband?”

There came no immediate answer to her question.  Still she decided to go on.

“Piper was with the Colonel a long time, sir.  And after the poor gentleman’s death Mrs. Crofton promised Piper that she’d oblige ’im in the matter of financing ’is new business.”

Radmore was very much surprised.  He felt certain that Enid Crofton had no money to spare, then he told himself that women are sometimes very foolish, especially if any matter of sentiment is in question.  But somehow he would not have thought that particular woman would ever be tempted to show herself impulsively generous.

“You spoke just now, Mrs. Piper, as if there was some doubt about the money?”

“Did I, sir?  Well, one can never tell in this world.  But I think Mrs. Crofton will find the money.”  She added, almost in a whisper, “It’s to ’er interest to do so, sir.”

“To her interest?” repeated Radmore.  “What exactly do you mean?”

“I don’t quite understand it myself, sir.”  Mrs. Piper spoke with a touch of light indifference in her voice, “Piper don’t tell me very much.  I was in Islington, conducting a little business I’ve got, when Colonel Crofton came by ’is sad death.  Mrs. Crofton spoke to Piper most feelingly, sir, about the service ’e’d done her by what ’e said at the inquest.  I’ve always ’ad my belief, sir, that Piper might ’ave said something more and different that would have been, maybe, awkward for Mrs. Crofton.”  She waited a moment, realising that she had burnt her boats.  “Do you take my meaning, sir?”

“No,” said Radmore sternly, “I don’t take your meaning at all, Mrs. Piper.  I don’t in the least understand what you meant to imply just now.”

A most disturbing suspicion had begun to assail him.  Was this woman, with her low, mincing voice, and carefully chosen words, something of a blackmailer?

They walked on in silence for a few minutes, and on her side, Mrs. Piper began to doubt very much whether she had acted for the best in being so honest—­“honest” was the word she used to herself.  But she told herself that now she had started, perhaps she had better go straight on with it.