“My dear,” he said reproachfully, “where have you been at this hour?” She looked frightened, Dick thought. The eyes of Elk narrowed as he surveyed her. “I couldn’t sleep, so I dressed and went out, father,” she said, and nodded to Dick. “You’re a surprising person, Captain Gordon. Why are you here at this hour?” “I came to interview you,” said Dick, forcing a smile. “Me!” She was genuinely astonished. “Why me?” “Captain Gordon heard your voice on a wireless telephone in the middle of the night, and wanted to know all about it,” said her father. If he was relieved, he was also troubled. Looking at him, Elk suddenly saw the relief intensified, and with his quick intuition guessed the cause before John Bennett put the question. “Was it Ray?” he asked eagerly. “Did he come down?” She shook her head. “No, father,” she said quietly. “And as to the wireless telephone, I have never spoken into a wireless telephone, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen one,” she said. “Of course you haven’t,” said Dick. “Only we were rather worried when we heard your voice, but Mr. Elk’s explanation, that it was somebody speaking whose voice was very much like yours, is obviously correct.” “Tell me this, Miss Bennett,” said Elk quietly. “Were you in town last night?” She did not reply. “My daughter went to bed at ten,” said John Bennett roughly. “What is the sense of asking her whether she was in London last night?” “Were you in town in the early hours of this morning, Miss Bennett?” persisted Elk, and to Dick’s amazement she nodded. “Were you at Caverley House?” “No,” she answered instantly. “But, Ella, what were you doing in town?” asked John Bennett. “Did you go to see that wretched brother of yours?” Again the hesitation, and then: “No.” “Did you go by yourself?” “No,” said Ella, and her lip trembled. “I wish you wouldn’t ask me any further questions. I’m not a free agent in the matter. Daddy, you’ve always trusted me: you’ll trust me now, won’t you?” He took her hand and held it in both of his. “I’ll trust you always, girlie,” he said; “and these gentlemen must do the same.” Her challenging eyes met Dick’s, and he nodded. “I am one who will share that trust,” he said, and something in her look rewarded him. Elk rubbed his chin fiercely. “Being naturally of a trusting nature, I should no more think of doubting your word, Miss Bennett, than I should of believing myself.” He looked at his watch. “I think we’ll go along and fetch poor old Balder from the house of sin,” he said. “You’ll stop and have some breakfast?” Dick looked pleadingly at Elk, and the detective, with an air of resignation, agreed. “Anyway, Balder won’t mind an hour more or less,” he said. Whilst Ella was preparing the breakfast, Dick and Elk paced the road outside. “Well, what do you think of it, Captain?” “I don’t understand, but I have every confidence that Miss Bennett has not lied,” said Dick.