"Well, it was that miserable business about—about Kathleen," said Force, a querulous note creeping into his voice. Mr. Bingle did not think it worth while to tell him that it was the same miserable business that kept him awake. "Now, I want the truth, Bingle. I want to be sure before I go ahead. It means a great deal to both of us. Was Kathleen's mother named Agnes Glenn?"
"It was," said Mr. Bingle, his eyes narrowing with the dawn of comprehension.
"Did you ever see her?"
"Once, just before she died."
"Describe her, Bingle."
"I can't. Good Lord, man, my eyes were blind with tears all the time I was—"
"Never mind," broke in Force. "We won't go into that, after all. Did she tell you anything about herself, her past life, her—her trouble?"
"Not a word. She was just about to enter the future life, Force. She hadn't much to say. Simply said that she hoped I'd be good to her little baby, that's all. Go on, man."
Mr. Force appeared to be lost in bleak abstraction. The curt command brought him out of it with a start.
"She went by the name of Mrs. Hinman, you say. No other name was mentioned, then or afterwards?"