"What do you want with me?" she asked, with characteristic bluntness.
The detective was silent. It was but for a moment, but in that moment he seemed to read to the bottom of this woman's mind.
"Well," said he, "I will tell you. You believe Craik Mansell to be innocent?"
"I do," she returned.
"Very well; so do I."
"Let me shake hands with you," was her abrupt remark. And without a smile she reached forth her hand, which he took with equal gravity.
This ceremony over, he remarked, with a cheerful mien:
"We are fortunately not in a court of law, and so can talk freely together. Why do you think Mansell innocent? I am sure the evidence has not been much in his favor."
"Why do you think him innocent?" was the brisk retort.
"I have talked with him."