"I—I don't care; I don't know either of the gentlemen; but to the one you call Howard, I think."
The pause which followed was filled by the tap-tap of Mr. Gryce's fingers on his knee.
"That is the one who is in custody," he observed at last. "The other, that is Franklin, has gone scot-free thus far, I hear."
No answer from her close-shut lips.
He waited.
Still no answer.
"If you do not know either of these gentlemen," he insinuated at last, "how did you come to leave the rings at their office?"
"I knew their names—I inquired my way—It is all a dream now. Please, please do not ask me questions. O doctor! do you not see I cannot bear it?"
He smiled—I never could smile like that under any circumstances—and softly patted her hand.
"I see it makes you suffer," he acknowledged, "but I must make you suffer in order to do you any good. If you would tell me all you know about these rings——"