"I won't," burst out Ronald, savagely; "what has she to do with it--she isn't the wife."
"No, but she might be the wife's sister."
Ronald thought a moment.
"Yes, she might," he answered, pale as death; "but all the same, you haven't proved that yet, and I won't insult her by asking her."
Roper sighed as he looked at this stubborn young man; it was no good trying to get assistance from him, so he would have to do the best he could.
"Very well," he said, calmly; "we won't ask Miss Cotoner anything. The first thing to be done is to establish the identity of Ventin with Verschoyle, and then I will go to Malta and see about Mrs. Verschoyle."
"But, how are we to find Mrs. Taunton?" asked Foster.
"There is a meeting of the 'Society for the Improvement of Art,' to-night," said Roper, "and she is sure to be there with her husband."
"Oh, I've got tickets," said Gerald; "so myself and Monteith will go, and we'll soon find out all about her and her brother; will you come, Monteith?"
"No," doggedly.