Labar was studying her with a cold scrutiny, weighing her words and her demeanour with infinite calculation. He was alight with suspicion, but somehow he felt reluctant to press this dainty little creature with the cold official catechism that was in his mind. This was the man whom of all others, in spite of certain mild flirtations, Scotland Yard would have held immune from feminine influence. He pulled himself together. The work had to be done. "Let's be sensible," he urged. "Now tell me, have you ever heard of a man called Larry Hughes?" That was a shot in the dark. He had little doubt what the answer would be. Penelope Noelson's lips came together in a thin, obstinate line. "No," she snapped. The detective gave no sign that he had heard her. He moved aimlessly to the small table he had been using and bent over a paper. She stood up with a little petulant shrug of her shoulders, and was half-way to the door before he spoke again. "Oh, by the way, there is another small matter. Why did you give me a hundred pound note this morning?" Her eyes widened, and as she wheeled to face him her hands groped for the support of a chair. "I gave you a hundred pound note? Why, I never saw you before in my life." He leaned grimly towards her. "You're very nearly a convincing little liar. I recognised you the instant you came in the room. I'm calling your bluff, my girl. Now then. Suppose you come clean." For a second she stared at him uncomprehendingly. Then she slumped to the floor in a dead faint. CHAPTER IV Labar was a little uncertain of the value of his hand. Therefore, he hesitated to disclose his cards fully to Solly Gertstein, the more so as that gentleman at almost the first word declared his implicit faith in Miss Noelson. It was at that moment that the detective came almost near to liking the pompous little man. All that the millionaire knew was that Labar had become suspicious while questioning the girl, and that she had fainted when the interrogation was closely pressed. Gertstein did not conceal his opinion that only a fool could suspect her. It was unthinkable that she could have anything to do with the robbery. She was as straight as a die. Now, although the divisional inspector liked this attitude on the part of Gertstein, it failed utterly to convince him. In fact, his own view of the situation might have been deduced from the fact that when he had summoned a maid to help Penelope to her room, he had also given private instructions to one of his staff to keep as close an eye upon her as circumstances would permit. There was no telling what she might do if she was really frightened.