"It has everything to do with Mr. Grent, if that is what you mean," said Darrel. "On Sunday morning last, shortly before one o'clock, your partner was murdered!"
"Murdered!" Leighbourne's voice leaped an octave. "Oh my God!"
Leighbourne's face, which had changed from white to red, and then back again, assumed an expression of profound astonishment. "A woman!" he repeated. "Murdered by a woman! Impossible! I thought----" Here he checked himself on observing the attentive attitude of his auditors. "Is the woman in custody," he asked calmly.
"No," replied Torry, who had noted the hesitation of the young man. "She is dead also."
"Dead also," repeated Leighbourne--"but not murdered?"
"Yes; she was stabbed to the heart by some unknown man."
Darrel could not forbear a dry laugh. "If he had been arrested, Mr. Leighbourne, he would not be unknown. No; the murderer escaped, and we have come to ask you to assist us to find him."
Leighbourne resumed his seat with what appeared to be an air of relief. "I!" he murmured. "Good Heavens, gentlemen, how can I possibly assist you?"
"Oh," said Torry, looking keenly at the young man, "that is very easy. You may know of something in Mr. Grent's past life which may supply the motive for this crime."
"I know nothing of Mr. Grent's past life but what is good and honest," the banker answered.
"My dear sir," said the detective, "you know that when there is any trouble, one must always look for a woman. Now----"
"There is no woman in this case," interrupted Leighbourne sharply.
"Oh, pardon me, sir. Mr. Grent was killed by a woman. And a short time ago you were beginning to make some remark thereon, when you stopped and changed the subject."
Leighbourne coloured, and looked embarrassed. "I did so because I thought it impossible that Mr. Grent could have met his death at the hands of a woman. So far as I know, he was never connected with one.
"Oh, yes; but of course I mean, with any other woman than his wife. Donna Inez is different."
"Mrs. Grent; but as she is a Spanish-American, she prefers to be called so."
"A Spanish-American," repeated Darrel, "from South America?"
Darrel looked at Torry and Torry gazed at Darrel. Mrs. Grent came from Peru; and the Blue Mummy had been obtained from a Peruvian tomb. The coincidence--if it was one--was strange.