The man was not one to argue with, and having made up his mind all the powers of heaven and earth could not change it.
This Eric read on his face, and saw in his manner—Prescott was as stubborn as a mule in all he undertook, which perhaps in a measure accounted for his success.
The detective was disappointed.
He had hoped for much and gained nothing, since the other was so set in his ways as to be defiant.
As Darrell had said there was nothing left now but to let matters run their course.
The puzzle had become deeper than ever to him, and he now accepted it without any very strong attempt at solving the enigma.
He could not understand how Lillian could love such a man as Prescott in preference to her husband, except on the theory that the artist possessed some terrible power over her which she was incapable of resisting.
Sadly he left the building.
The game must go on now to the inevitable conclusion—some one would get hurt, but that was to be expected.
What he regretted most of all was the shock to poor Joe.