“And you will not tell me the name of Adams’s associate in the matter?”
“No. I—I cannot do that. Please do not ask me,” she answered hurriedly.
Rolfe was again silent for a few moments. At last he asked:
“Cannot you tell me something of the past relations between Adams and Statham? You seem to know all the details of the strange affair.”
“Adams makes certain serious allegations which he can substantiate. There is a certain witness whom Mr Statham believes to be dead, but who is still alive, and is now in England.”
“A witness—of what?” asked Rolfe quickly.
“Of the crime which Adams alleges.”
“Crime—what crime?” ejaculated the young man in surprise, staring at his pretty companion.
“Some serious offence, but of what nature I am not permitted to explain to you.”
“Why not, Miss Lorena? You must! Remember that Mr Statham is in ignorance of this—I mean that Adams intends to charge him with a crime. Surely the position is most serious! I imagined that Adams’s charges were criticism of Mr Statham’s methods of finance.”