o a certain extent on the facts."

But Mr. Hagan had in his police-detective days made use of the third
degree, and when he next spoke his voice was firm almost to sternness.
"I thought," he reminded the other, "we were going to be frank."

Thus encouraged, Tollman proceeded slowly, "I'm not seeking to whitewash
the character of the gentleman, if that's what you mean."

"Good! Now, we're going somewhere. There are very few people who have no
skeletons in their closets."

The hand of the employer came up with fastidious distaste. "Let this be
understood from the beginning, Mr. Hagan, I have no wish to hear
anything but reports of results obtained. In the details of your work I
have not the slightest interest."

Mr. Hagan nodded, and inquired, "Is it with a view to criminal
prosecution, now, that this case is to be worked or--?" He paused
interrogatively.

"It is not. It is only necessary to convince a young lady, whose family
disapproves of the man, that their suspicions are based on fact. She is
so prejudiced in his favor, however, that the facts must be
substantial--and of a character calculated to weigh with a woman."

Hagan drew a cigar-case from his pocket, and proffered it, but his offer
being declined with a cold shake of the head, he settled himself as
comfortably as possible in his uncomfortable chair and engaged in
reflection. After digesting the preliminaries, he began to speak
musingly, as though to himself.

"Of course if the lady knew that detectives were working on the case,
the force of any disclosure would be discounted."

His eyes were on his employer as he spoke and he saw Tollman start.
Tollman's words, too, came with an impulsiveness which had been absent
heretofore.

"Neither of them must know, of course, that this investigation is being
made. Unless you can assure me on that point you mustn't undertake the
business."

With some difficulty the detective repressed a smile. "That goes
without saying, Mr. Tollman. Now if it could be shown that this man was
mixed up in some sort of a scandal--with a married woman, or a shady
one, for instance--that ought to fit the case, oughtn't it?"

"Precisely." Again Tollman's voice was tinged with an unaccustomed
quickness of interest, but at once, as though he had made a mistake, he
amended with a heavy gravity, "However, we can hardly forecast what you
will learn. I understand that he has directed his mail forwarded to an
apartment hotel near Washi