"Will you do so to me?" asked Paul eagerly.
Miss Clyde looked him coolly up and down. "Really, Mr. Mexton, I do not see why I should," was her response; "you do not represent the law."
"Not officially. But Inspector Drek has accepted my assistance."
"Has he? And why have you offered it?"
"Because I wish to save Dr. Lester from being judicially murdered."
"I think that lies in my province rather than in yours," said Miss Clyde, smiling; "but I suppose the real reason that you are acting as an amateur detective lies in the fact that you love Miss Link?"
Paul smiled also. "I can't say that I do," he replied; "we are more like brother and sister than anything else. But I don't deny that I am sorry for her on account of her loss."
"You need not be," retorted Miss Clyde with disdain; "there was no love lost between Milly and Iris; in fact, they disliked one another."
"Oh, I should not say that," protested Paul, shocked by her want of sentiment.
"Aye, but I shall say it! Milly was going to marry Mr. Herne, and Iris was in love with him; quite enough motive there for two women to fight."