"If you want to get rid of them on my account, father, I may as well tell you—"
"No; it's got nothing to do with you." He was still resting his forehead on his hand, looking downward at the blotting-paper on his desk. "It's Claude."
Thor started back. "Claude? What's he got to do with it?"
"I hadn't made up my mind whether to tell you or not; but—"
"He doesn't even know them. Of course he knows who they are. Fay was Grandpa Thorley's—"
Masterman continued to speak wearily. "He may not know them all. It's motive enough for my action that he knows—the girl."
"Oh no, he doesn't."
"You'd better ask him."
"I have asked him."
"Then you'd better ask him again."