Tarling remembered that when Lyne had spoken to Milburgh before, and had suggested that the girl had been guilty of some act of predation, Milburgh had been quick to deny the possibility.

Now his manner was hostile to the girl--indefinitely so, but sufficiently marked for Tarling to notice it.
"Do you think that Miss Rider had any reason for running away ?" asked the detective.
Milburgh shrugged his shoulders.
"In this world," he said unctuously, "one is constantly being deceived by people in whom one has put one's trust." "In other words, you suspect Miss Rider of robbing the firm ?" Up went Mr.Milburgh's plump hands.
"I would not say that," he said.

"I would not accuse a young woman of such an act of treachery to her employers, and I distinctly refuse to make any charges until the auditors have completed their work.

There is no doubt," he added carefully, "that Miss Rider had the handling of large sums of money, and she of all people in the business, and particularly in the cashier's department would have been able to rob the firm without the knowledge of either myself or poor Mr.Lyne.This, of course, is confidential." He laid one hand appealingly on Tarling's arm, and that worthy nodded.
"Have you any idea where she would be ?" Again Milburgh shook his head.
"The only thing--" he hesitated and looked into Tarling's eyes.
"Well ?" asked the detective impatiently.
"There is a suggestion, of course, that she may have gone abroad.

I do not offer that suggestion, only I know that she spoke French very well and that she had been to the Continent before." Tarling stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"To the Continent, eh ?" he said softly.