"Certainly not."
"You believed her to be an innocent and deserving person?"
"I did."
"Miss Thompson, are you still of that opinion?"
"I am sure she is a deserving person," was the firm reply.
"Who is?" asked Grimes quickly.
"Why, Hest—Jenny Regan," stammered Betty, and the detective smiled, but he paid no attention to this slip.
"You say deserving, but not innocent. Do you still think Jenny Regan innocent of stealing the bishop's purse?"
The crisis had come. Should Betty speak or keep silent? To speak would bring inevitable ruin upon this unfortunate girl, who had trusted her. Yet how could she not speak?
While she hesitated Bob spoke for her. "How can Miss Thompson possibly know whether Jenny Regan stole the bishop's purse or not?" he demanded.