"You don't understand," she said. "I simply had to go ... my father is ill."
"Ill?"
"Yes, he is staying with a friend of ours, Doctor Corman."
"Where?"
"At his private Home, just outside Seattle."
Wallion started visibly and exchanged a quick glance with Tom.
"In a Home, you say. Tell us more about it."
Elaine handed him the locket. He looked closely at the photograph, and she said in a broken voice:
"There you see my father, but you must not think ... you must not think that his mind is affected ... he has broken down with grief and sorrow, no one has gone through so much adversity, but he is not out of his mind."
Wallion returned the locket but said nothing. She pressed it to her bosom and repeated: "He has broken down, but he is not mad, he has been injured by wicked people ... if I had not looked after him he would have died ... Oh, it is only justice he wants and a clear explanation, an explanation of the great, big secret."