lke. "They'll only
tell what they please."

"Let's try the other two, anyway," counselled Starmidge. "They may be
able to tell something. For as sure as I am what I am, the whole secret
of this business lies in Hollis's coming down here to see Horbury, and
in what followed on their meeting. If we could only get to know what
Hollis came here for--ah!"

But they got no further information from either Betty Fosdyke or
Wallington Neale. Neither had ever heard of Mr. Frederick Hollis, of
Gray's Inn. Betty was certain, beyond doubt, that he was no relation of
the missing bank-manager: she had the whole family-tree of the Horburys
at her finger-ends, she declared: no Hollis was connected with even its
outlying twigs. Neale had never heard the name of Hollis mentioned by
Horbury. And he added that he was absolutely sure that during the last
five years no person of that name had ever had dealings with
Chestermarke's Bank--open dealings, at any rate. Secret dealings with
the partners, severally or collectively, or with Horbury, for that
matter, Mr. Hollis might have had, but Neale was certain he had had no
ordinary business with any of them.

Polke took heart of grace and led Simmons across to the bank. To his
astonishment, the partners now received him readily and politely; they
even listened with apparent interest to the clerk's story, and asked him
some questions arising out of it. But each declared that he knew nothing
about Mr. Frederick Hollis, and was utterly unaware of any reason that
could bring him to Scarnham: it was certainly on no business of theirs,
as a firm, or as private individuals, that he came.

"He came, of course, to see Horbury," said Joseph at last. "That's dead
certain. No doubt they met. And after that--well, they seem to have
vanished together."

Gabriel followed Polke into the hall and drew him aside.

"Did this clerk tell you whether his master was a man of standing?" he
asked.

"Man of private means, Mr. Chestermarke, with a small, highly
respectable practice--a conveyancing solicitor," answered Polke.

"Oh!" replied Gabriel. "Just so. Well--we know nothing about him."

Polke and his companion returned to the Scarnham Arms, where Starmidge
was in consultation with Betty and Neale.

"They know nothing at all over there," he reported. "Never heard of
Hollis. What's to be done now!"

"Mr. Simmons must do the next thing," answered the detective. "Get back
to town, Mr. Simmons, and put yours