“Did you tell him that the stranger did not return?”
“I did, sir.”
“What did Mr. Goulard say about that?”
“He appeared quite disturbed.”
“What did he say?” Nick repeated.
“Well, I don’t think I remember,” Mrs. Hardy faltered. “He said nothing that made any impression on me. He asked whether Helen recognized the man, or gave me a[{20}] description of him. When I had told him all I knew about the matter, he rushed out to his automobile and rode rapidly away with his chauffeur.”
“More rapidly than usual?”
“Yes, sir; much more. To tell the truth, Mr. Carter, I felt almost sure that he suspected the man’s identity.”
Nick thought so, too, but he did not say so. He at once suspected, also, that Goulard had hastened to the telephone exchange to question Helen Bailey, and ten minutes later he entered in disguise and confirmed his suspicions. Revealing his identity, of course, he learned from Helen that Goulard had questioned her very closely about the man who had pursued her brother, and that he then had hurriedly departed.
“Does he know that you were arrested yesterday morning, Miss Bailey, and for what?” Nick then inquired.