r uncle's office that
fateful Tuesday night, although you have said you didn't go down there."

As I had feared, the girl turned white and shivered as if with a
dreadful apprehension.

"Who is the witness?" she said.

I seemed to read her mind, and I felt at once that to her, the
importance of what I had said depended largely on my answer to this
question, and I paused a moment to think what this could mean. And then
it flashed across me that she was afraid I would say the witness was
Gregory Hall. I became more and more convinced that she was shielding
Hall, and I felt sure that when she learned it was not he, she would
feel relieved. However, I had promised Louis not to let her know that he
had told me of seeing her, unless it should be necessary.

"I think I won't tell you that; but since you were seen in the office at
about eleven o'clock, will you not tell me,--I assure you it is for your
own best interests,--what you were doing there, and why you denied being
there?"

"First tell me the name of your informer;" and so great was her
agitation that she scarcely breathed the words.

"I prefer not to do so, but I may say it is a reliable witness and one
who gave his evidence most unwillingly."

"Well, if you will not tell me who he was, will you answer just one
question about him? Was it Mr. Hall?"

"No; it was not Mr. Hall."

As I had anticipated, she showed distinctly her relief at my answer.
Evidently she dreaded to hear Hall's name brought into the conversation.

"And now, Miss Lloyd, I ask you earnestly and with the best intent,
please to tell me the details of your visit to Mr. Crawford that night
in his office."

She sat silent for a moment, her eyes cast down, the long dark lashes
lying on her pale cheeks. I waited patiently, for I knew she was
struggling with a strong emotion of some sort, and I feared if I hurried
her, her gentle mood would disappear, and she might again become angry
or haughty of demeanor.

At last she spoke. The dark lashes slowly raised, and she seemed even
more gentle than at first.

"I must tell you," she said. "I see I must. But don't repeat it, unless
it is necessary. Detectives have to know things, but they don't have to
tell them, do they?"

"We never repeat confidences, Miss Lloyd," I replied, "except when
necessary to further the cause of right and justice."

"Truly? Is that so?"

She brightened up so much that I began to hope she had only some
trifling matter