"I want neither," broke in a voice which I recognized at once as Adele
Laidlaw's.

She spoke with a suppressed emotion which plainly indicated that she did
want one of them.

Just then the butler entered with our cards. We heard no more. A moment
later we were ushered into the library.

Mrs. Barry was a trim, well-groomed woman whose age was deceptive. I
felt that no matter what one might think of Miss Laidlaw, here was a
woman whose very looks seemed to warn one to be on his guard. She was a
woman of the world, confident in her own ability to take care of
herself.

Adele was flushed and excited, as we entered, though she was making a
desperate effort to act as though nothing had happened.

"My friend, Professor Kennedy, and Mr. Jameson," she introduced us
simply, making no pretense to conceal our identity.

Mrs. Barry was, in addition to her other accomplishments, a good
actress. "I've heard a great deal about you, Professor," she said,
extending her hand, but not taking her eyes off Craig's face.

Kennedy met her gaze directly. What did she mean? Had she accepted Miss
Laidlaw's invitation to call in order to look us over, knowing that we
had come to do the same?

"Mr. Creighton tells me that you have been to see his new motor," she
ventured, even before any of us could open the subject.

She seemed to enjoy making the remark for the specific purpose of
rousing Miss Laidlaw. It succeeded amply, also. The implication that
Creighton took her into his confidence was sufficient to cause Adele
Laidlaw to shoot an angry glance at her.

Mrs. Barry had no objection to sticking a knife in and turning it
around. "Of course I don't know as much about such things as Miss
Laidlaw," she purred, "but Mr. Tresham tells me that there may be some
trouble with the patent office about allowing the patent. From all I
have heard there's a fortune in that motor for someone. Wonderful, isn't
it?"

Even the mention of Tresham's name in the studied familiarity of her
tone seemed to increase the scarcely latent hostility between the two
women. Kennedy, so far, had said nothing, content merely to observe.

"It appears to be wonderful," was all he said, guardedly.

Mrs. Barry eyed him sharply and Miss Laidlaw appeared to be ill at ease.
Evidently she wanted to believe in Creighton and his motor, yet her
natural caution forbade her. The entrance of Kennedy into the case
seemed to have proved a disturbing factor between the two w