"As you please, Anne; you know best."
Accepting this permission Anne drew Fanks quickly into the passage, and led him into the apartment he had seen on the occasion of his last visit. He still held the photograph in his hand; and at this she looked anxiously as she signed to him that he should take a seat. Fanks placed himself in a comfortable armchair; Miss Colmer took up her position opposite to him, and both prepared for a difficult conversation. As was natural from her late action, she made an observation on the picture of Mrs. Boazoph.
"I see that you recognise that face," said Anne, coolly; "no doubt you wonder how that photograph came to be in this house?"
"I do wonder. Am I to hear the truth from you, Miss Colmer?"
"Certainly; there is no reason why I should tell you a lie."
Man and woman looked directly into one another's eyes, and a look of mutual distrust passed between them. It was Fanks who first took up the unspoken challenge.
"I think you would tell me a lie if there was anything to be gained or concealed by it," said the detective, dryly.
"You are not far out there," returned Anne, coolly. "I am above petty moral doubts in such circumstances. But in this instance, Mr. Fanks, I have nothing to gain or to lose by telling a falsehood. You saw Mr. Hersham this morning," she added abruptly and irrelevantly.
"Yes. Have I you to thank for the alteration in his demeanour?"
"You have; I persuaded him to tell you all. Has he done so?"