Mrs. Frewen meditated a few moments in turn and then said:
"I do not know as I wish to renew his acquaintance, especially as he has probably become a criminal."
Oscar smiled, but the smile on his face vanished as he caught an expression on the face of the niece Alice as she said:
"Aunty, we have no reason to assume that Al—I mean the young man has become a criminal."
The girl started to say Alphonse but checked herself and said, "the young man."
Oscar was a regular mind-reader, and he remarked in a tone indicating a forgetfulness that the question had once been answered:
"So you never had the pleasure of seeing this young man, Miss Alice?"
The girl blushed and appeared restless and uneasy as she answered:
"No."
The detective turned to Mrs. Frewen and said: