And that means the end.
"Sincerely, LESTER WARD." "So your brother is in a bad way financially ?" said Britz, more in the way of an audible comment than as a question.
Evidently the subject was too painful for discussion, for she averted her face as if to hide the emotions written thereon.
"Your brother expected Mr.Whitmore to rescue him ?" persisted Britz.
"Yes," she acknowledged.
"And Mr.Whitmore's death leaves him in a sad predicament ?" "Ruin is inevitable," she admitted.
"Which makes it clear that it was to Mr.Ward's interest as well as your own to find Mr.Whitmore alive ?" "Precisely," replied she.

"His death was a terrible blow to us." Britz saw the situation clearly.

Ward, rendered desperate by the impending ruin, had hoped that Whitmore would come to his rescue.

But the latter's death had destroyed all hope of aid from that direction.
The letter, far from furnishing incriminating evidence against anyone, clearly established Ward's and Mrs.Collins's interest in keeping Whitmore alive.

Nevertheless Britz decided to retain the note on the bare chance that subsequent developments might give it a changed aspect.
Mrs.Collins, divining with the sure instinct of a woman, the obvious conclusion which the detective had drawn from the letter, ventured another attempt to gain possession of it.
"Now that you are convinced that it has no bearing on Mr.Whitmore's death, may I have it ?" she asked.
"Why are you so anxious to obtain it ?" retorted Britz.
"Because its possession by someone would be an endless source of embarrassment to me," answered she.
She spoke as one engaged in a controversy of minor significance.