love her, and I'm deeply concerned and troubled to see
the mess she's in with this blighter; but I'm a detective first and
last and always over this business; and I have some credit in my
painful profession."

"Good. Remember that, whatever happens. And keep your temper with
me, too, because nothing is gained by losing it. I'm not saying a
word against Mrs. Doria, but inasmuch as she is Mrs. Doria and
inasmuch as Doria is as yet very much an unknown quantity to you and
me, you must understand that I don't allow appearances to blind my
eyes or control my actions. Now if a woman hints, or indicates, that
she is unhappily married, then nothing is more natural than that a
man like yourself, who entertains the tenderest feelings to the
woman, should believe what he sees and regard her melancholy as
genuine. It looks all right; but suppose, for their own ends, that
Jenny Doria and her spouse want to create this impression? Suppose
that their object is to lead you and me to imagine that they are not
friends?"

"My God! What would you make of her?"

"It isn't what I'd make of her. It's what she really is. And that
I'm going to find out, because a great deal more may depend upon it
than you appear to imagine."

"A moment's reflection will surely convince you that neither she nor
Doria--"

"Wait, wait! I'm only saying that we must not allow character,
fancied or real, to dam any channel of investigation. If reflection
convinces me that it is impossible for Doria to be in collusion with
Robert Redmayne, I shall admit it. As yet that is not so. There are
several very interesting points. Have you asked yourself why Bendigo
Redmayne's diary is missing?"

"I have--and could not see how it was likely to contain anything
dangerous to Robert Redmayne."

Peter did not enlighten him for the moment. Then he spoke and
changed the subject.

"I must find out several fundamental facts and I certainly shall not
learn them here," he said. "Next week in all probability, unless
something unexpected happens to prevent it, I go back to England."

"Can't I go?'"

"I shall want you here; but our understanding must be complete
before I leave.''

"Trust me for that," said Mark.

"I do."

"You want me to look after Mr. Redmayne?"

"No; I look after him. He's my first care. I haven't broke it to him
yet; but he's going with me."

Brendon considered and his thought flushed his cheek.

"You can't trust him with me, then?"

"It's no