"I rather expected you to say that. But the matter comes up in this way. Lyon, here, has identified Mrs. Broughton with the woman who was seen with Fullerton that evening. He may be wrong, of course. But if he is right, it may be helpful to know what she wanted, first from you and then from him."
Lawrence did not look at Lyon this time. His eyes, swept clear of all expression, were fixed upon Howell in calm attention.
"Why not ask her?" he said.
"She has been ill,--too ill to be disturbed. Dr. Barry has insisted. This afternoon she disappeared. Bede had been to see her a short time before. Now, what bearing, so far as you know, does this have upon the case?"
Lawrence dropped his eyes, which had been fixed intently upon the speaker, and remained silent for some moments. Lyon, watching him, felt perfectly satisfied that the facts presented were all new to him, and that his mind was now trying to fit them into the theory of the crime which he had before entertained, and that his hesitation in answering was due to his caution. At last he said,
"I cannot throw any light on the subject. I did not see Mrs. Broughton after she left my office in the morning."
"Was her business of such a nature that she would have been likely to consult Fullerton about it?"
Lawrence frowned. "She might have done so. Women never keep to the rules of the game."
"You had warned her not to consult him personally?"
Lawrence smiled satirically into Howell's eyes. "What are you trying to find out?"