"It seems, in short, that he has been working on a very intimate clew," said Sara, staring fixedly at her father-in-law's face.
"So he informed me over the 'phone this morning," said he, rather taken a-back. "However, he did not go into the details. I am here, Sara, to tell you that he is coming out to-morrow. I want to ask you to come over to my place at—"
"That is out of the question, sir," exclaimed Mr. Carroll vehemently.
"My dear Mr. Carroll—" began Wrandall angrily, but Sara interrupted him to suggest that they talk it over in the tea-house. She would ring for tea.
"If you will excuse me, Mrs. Wrandall, I think I will be off," said Booth.
"Please stay, Mr. Booth," she urged. "I would like to have you here."
She fell behind with Hetty. The girl's eyes were glassy.
"Don't be alarmed," she whispered.
Booth pressed the button for her. "Thank you. You will be surprised, Mr. Wrandall, to hear that the new clew leads to a member of your own family."
Mr. Wrandall was in the act of sitting down. At her words he dropped. His eyes bulged.