“Yes, I am in sore trouble. Wellnigh beside myself, but I will see to your matters.”
“Tell me. Let me help you.”
“Could you help me, I wonder.” I had not thought of her. She might know of some places where I could search, but on the other hand, she could not give me the information without bringing those with whom she had been associated into danger of arrest.
“Tell me. You can surely trust me,” she urged.
“You could only help me by betraying your former friends. Do you know a Dr. Barosa?”
“By name, yes. There is nothing you can ask me I will not tell you. You believe that as I am sure you believe I will keep everything you say secret.”
A few seconds decided me to tell her enough to make the position clear—that what I wanted was to know where to look for Barosa.
“I do not know that I could help you much in any case. It is very difficult,” she murmured, her face troubled and her manner expressing both perplexity and wistful anxiety.
“I do not understand,” I said.
“You said I might have to betray my former associates. Does that mean that you will take the police with you?” She paused and sat biting her lip in great distress. “If you ask me, I cannot refuse.”