Sarah spoke with the utmost coolness. If she was frightened she had evidently resolved to hide her fright under a mask of defiance. Tarleton’s manner was one of entire friendliness. “They mean that although I have come to see Mrs. Weathered as a Government official, on official business, our interview will be strictly confidential. I shall not make use of any information she may give me, without her consent.” The daughter looked at him doubtfully. “Does that apply to me as well?” Sir Frank purposely hesitated before answering. “There is no reason why I shouldn’t have a confidential talk with you as well, if you desire it. But at present I have only asked to see Mrs. Weathered.” The name seemed to irritate the girl. “My mother has dropped the name of Weathered,” she said sharply. “In future she desires to be known as Mrs. Neobard.” Tarleton was struck by her tone. It conveyed to him that the change of name had not been made with a view to concealment, but was due to some deeper cause. Up to now Miss Neobard had made no reference to the whereabouts of the travellers having been so soon discovered. She now threw out the question scornfully. “I suppose the police are on our track, as we came here without giving anyone our address. Is that confidential?” “Certainly not.” The doctor was getting a little irritated by this time. “Your leaving London while the mystery of Dr. Weathered’s death was still unsolved was enough to provoke the suspicion of the police. They were bound to keep you in sight.” Sarah couldn’t very well contradict this. She lifted her head more defiantly than ever. “My mother can’t see you,” she repeated. “Anything you want to say to her can be said to me.” Sir Frank admired her courage. He tried to soften her. “My dear Miss Neobard, I wish you would let me speak to you as a friend. You can’t think I have come here as an enemy. If I had I should have brought Dr. Cassilis with me. Or rather I should have sent him instead of coming myself.” This shot told as he had expected. It was evident that Sarah cherished a strong resentment against me. It was a new light to her that my chief might take a different view of the case. For the first time she looked at him as if she thought it possible that he might be sincere. “Dr. Cassilis has practically accused me of murder,” she said. “Dr. Cassilis is a young man without much experience. He has let himself become interested in the young lady you seemed to suspect. He spoke in her defence; I don’t believe that he really thinks you had anything to do with Dr. Weathered’s death. He went too far, of course, and I have told him so. In fact, I have now taken him off the case.” The defiance began to die out of Miss Neobard’s eyes. They were fine eyes and she knew how to use them with effect. “Does that mean that I am not under suspicion any longer?” she inquired in a more gracious voice.