"Where was she from?"
"She was born in the upper part of New York, in what was then the village of Fort Washington."
"Has she any relatives?"
"I don't know. I never heard her speak of her past life at all."
"Then you have no idea why she should seek such quarters as that house in the rear of the Catherine Market, where we found her?"
"Not the slightest, Mr. Hook. When I first saw her in the street on that terrible night I never was more surprised in my life. I ought not to have left her even for a moment. I never would have done so had I been myself."
"There, there. Don't think anything more about it," said the detective, kindly, seeing that Frank could no longer restrain the tears. "Whisky makes fools of us all, my boy. Finish your breakfast and we'll talk about these matters later on."
He resumed the paper, leaving Frank to his own bitter thoughts.
For the space of a few moments neither spoke.
Suddenly, with an exclamation of surprise and satisfaction, Caleb Hook brought his hand down upon the table with a thump which made the dishes rattle.