“Show her in here,” said Barrod.

In half a minute, Inez Fratten appeared. Her cheeks were flushed and her eye sparkled.

“I’ve foun . . .” she began, but Barrod interrupted her.

“Where’s your brother, Miss Fratten?” he asked abruptly.

Inez stared at him.

“My brother?”

“I beg your pardon, miss; I mean Mr. Ryland Fratten.”

“But what do you mean— ‘where is he?’ ”

“Was he at your house this morning?”

“No; no, as a matter of fact, he wasn’t.”