his truth than Sir Patrick. He was purposely
puzzling Geoffrey at starting, under the firm conviction that his
client had something to conceal from him. The one process that could be
depended on for extracting the truth, under those circumstances, was
the process of interrogation. If Geoffrey was submitted to it, at the
outset, his cunning might take the alarm. Sir Patrick's object was
to make the man himself invite interrogation. Geoffrey invited it
forthwith, by attempting to state the circumstances, and by involving
them in the usual confusion. Sir Patrick waited until he had thoroughly
lost the thread of his narrative--and then played for the winning trick.

"Would it be easier to you if I asked a few questions?" he inquired,
innocently.

"Much easier."

"I am quite at your service. Suppose we clear the ground to begin with?
Are you at liberty to mention names?"

"No."

"Places?"

"No."

"Dates?"

"Do you want me to be particular?"

"Be as particular as you can."

"Will it do, if I say the present year?"

"Yes. Were your friend and the lady--at some time in the present
year--traveling together in Scotland?"

"No."

"Living together in Scotland?"

"No."

"What _were_ they doing together in Scotland?"

"Well--they were meeting each other at an inn."

"Oh? They were meeting each other at an inn. Which was first at the
rendezvous?"

"The woman was first. Stop a bit! We are getting to it now." He produced
from his pocket the written memorandum of Arnold's proceedings at Craig
Fernie, which he had taken down from Arnold's own lips. "I've got a bit
of note here," he went on. "Perhaps you'd like to have a look at it?"

Sir Patrick took the note--read it rapidly through to himself--then
re-read it, sentence by sentence, to Geoffrey; using it as a text to
speak from, in making further inquiries.

"'He asked for her by the name of his wife, at the door,'" read
Sir Patrick. "Meaning, I presume, the door of the inn? Had the lady
previously given herself out as a married woman to the people of the
inn?"

"Yes."

"How long had she been at the inn before the gentleman joined her?"

"Only an hour or so."

"Did she give a name?"

"I can't be quite sure--I should say not."

"Did the gentleman give a name?"

"No. I'm certain _he_ didn't."

Sir Patrick returned to the memorandum.

"'He said at dinner, before the landlady and the waiter, I take these
rooms for my wife. He made _her_ say he was h