The inspector's face darkened.
"Mr. Layton," he said, with unmistakable emphasis, "you had better not decline to answer any question. I must warn you that your position may become extremely serious."
"I am afraid," Layton remarked quietly, "that you have already made up your mind that I am guilty of the crime."
"That is as it may be," replied the inspector. "I am advising you for your own good. To refuse to answer questions is not the way to allay suspicion—but to increase it."
"I realize that," the young man said. "But I still refuse."
Inspector Fay leant back in his chair patiently.
"Come, Mr. Layton, you will only put us to the trouble and delay of proving what you might as well tell us at once. And it will do you no good."
"I should be sorry to cause you any additional trouble," Layton replied. "But I have my reasons."
"Let me help you," continued the inspector. "I have had inquiries made at Miss Manderson's hotel, at the theater at which she was to have appeared, of her maid, and various other sources. We have got her time pretty well accounted for. It seems that you have not seen her at all since she arrived in this country two months ago. Is that so?"
There was no answer.