"What was the message?" "'Nine-thirty o'clock to-night, at place agreed upon.'" "Did you take it?" "Yes." "Without understanding what it meant?" "Without understanding it at all. I asked Mannion what it meant, and he said it was an appointment about which I could possibly have no concern." "Did you see Mannion that night?" "Certainly. He stayed in this house." "At what time did he come in?" "About midnight." "Did you expect him?" "No, for he had told my daughter that he was going away for a few days and would leave on the evening train. He changed his mind; but for what reason, I do not know." "You do know, I presume, that he is suspected of the murder of James Playfair?" "What you said to me yesterday put the idea into my head. And if he did murder Playfair I want to see him punished. Better that he should die a felon's death, even though the disgrace of his crime and punishment should fall upon me and mine, than that my daughter should hereafter link her life with his." "Do you think your daughter would cleave to him if she knew what he had done?" "Yes; she is a strange girl. She has a good heart, but she is set in her ways. She loves Mannion with all her heart and soul, and she will love him and stay by him under any and all circumstances." "In a way," said Nick, "her character is to be admired. Heroines have been made out of poorer stuff. But I think as you do, Mr. Craven, that it is better that she should suffer while she is young than live a life of wretchedness. Mannion dead or out of the way would be a blessing which she would appreciate in later days. The man is a deadly incubus to her. Not only on her account, but because society demands it, he must be caught and punished." "If I can help you in any way I am ready and willing to do so," said Craven eagerly. He had been impressed by the detective's words. Nick felt that he could now be trusted. Since entering the house he had not asked Craven as to the whereabouts of Mrs. Mannion, neither had he lowered his voice while speaking of Mannion and the murder. As a matter of fact, he had spoken in a louder tone than was usual with him, in the hope that the daughter would be a listener. It was very probable that she was somewhere about the house; and, if so, her anxiety over her husband's flight and the pursuit would cause her to view with suspicion the appearance of a stranger at the door. That she would eavesdrop was to be expected. Nick, as has been stated, hoped that she would overhear what he might say to her father, for from the description of her character he believed that the eavesdropping would likely be followed by an attempt to reach her husband and warn him that he must seek the safest quarters possible. "Let her leave the house," thought the detective, "and Chick will shadow her wherever she may go." For the purpose of adding interest to what he had said about Mannion, Nick answered Craven's last question by saying: