"Yes."
The detective tried to appear indifferent as he asked:
"What was your name, madam, before your marriage to Mr. Speir?"
"I do not know."
"You do not know?" repeated our hero.
"No; I was called Amalie, that is all I can remember. You see, sir, I most always have lived with strangers, and if my last name was ever mentioned in my hearing it was done so rarely that I never remembered it."
"Have you ever sought to find out what your name was previous to your marriage?"
"I have, but I have failed."
There was intense eagerness in the tones of our hero's voice despite his effort to conceal his interest when he asked:
"Madam, do you know your age?"