But they got no further information from either Betty Fosdyke or Wallington Neale. Neither had ever heard of Mr. Frederick Hollis, of Gray's Inn. Betty was certain, beyond doubt, that he was no relation of the missing bank-manager: she had the whole family-tree of the Horburys at her finger-ends, she declared: no Hollis was connected with even its outlying twigs. Neale had never heard the name of Hollis mentioned by Horbury. And he added that he was absolutely sure that during the last five years no person of that name had ever had dealings with Chestermarke's Bank--open dealings, at any rate. Secret dealings with the partners, severally or collectively, or with Horbury, for that matter, Mr. Hollis might have had, but Neale was certain he had had no ordinary business with any of them. Polke took heart of grace and led Simmons across to the bank. To his astonishment, the partners now received him readily and politely; they even listened with apparent interest to the clerk's story, and asked him some questions arising out of it. But each declared that he knew nothing about Mr. Frederick Hollis, and was utterly unaware of any reason that could bring him to Scarnham: it was certainly on no business of theirs, as a firm, or as private individuals, that he came. "He came, of course, to see Horbury," said Joseph at last. "That's dead certain. No doubt they met. And after that--well, they seem to have vanished together." Gabriel followed Polke into the hall and drew him aside. "Did this clerk tell you whether his master was a man of standing?" he asked. "Man of private means, Mr. Chestermarke, with a small, highly respectable practice--a conveyancing solicitor," answered Polke. "Oh!" replied Gabriel. "Just so. Well--we know nothing about him." Polke and his companion returned to the Scarnham Arms, where Starmidge was in consultation with Betty and Neale. "They know nothing at all over there," he reported. "Never heard of Hollis. What's to be done now!" "Mr. Simmons must do the next thing," answered the detective. "Get back to town, Mr. Simmons, and put yourself in communication with every single one of Mr. Hollis's clients--you know them all, of course. Find out if any of them gave Mr. Hollis any business that would send him to Scarnham. Don't leave a stone unturned in that way! And the moment you have any information, however slight, wire to me, here--on the instant." CHAPTER XVI THE LEAD MINE Starmidge and Polke presently left--to walk down to the railway station with the bewildered clerk; when they had gone, Betty turned to Neale, who was hanging about her sitting-room with no obvious intention of leaving it. "While these people are doing what they can in their way, is there nothing we can do in ours?" she asked. "I hate sitting here doing nothing at all! You're a free man now, Wallie--can't you suggest something?"