“Just ask you a few more questions. I’m glad I didn’t wake you.” She followed him along the passage and down the stairs. They crossed the living-room side by side, Rawson with long strides, she with short quick steps. There was a sense of hurry in their progress as if they were hastening to some ominous goal. When she entered the library her glance fell on Bassett facing her across the room, his brows drawn low over the dark trouble of his eyes. His look told her of anxiety, apprehension and a passionate concern for her. She gave it back, feeling a desperate cold courage run to her fainting senses. Williams indicated an armchair near the desk: “Take a seat, Miss Tracy. Sorry we’ve had to call you down.” She fell into it and, as the men settled themselves in theirs, ran her tongue along her dry lips and took a deep breath of air into her lungs. Then she raised her chin and looked at them, inquiringly attentive. During the passage of the look she laid the charge on her mind to go cautiously and not be afraid. “We’ve been making some inquiries about your brother, Miss Tracy,” Rawson began. “About his leaving here. You told us, as I remember, that you knew he went.” “Why, yes, he went.” “Did you see him go?” “Well, no, I didn’t actually _see_ him, but that wouldn’t prevent--” She stopped and looked from one to the other of the watching faces--“What do you mean?” She must find out what they knew before she ventured. “Then you _didn’t_ see him?” “No--I didn’t see the boat go, I was up-stairs, but of course he went.” “We’ve found out that he didn’t,” said Rawson. “Didn’t go, didn’t go back with Gabriel? Wh--why--” She swept them with an alarmed look which fetched up on Bassett. “Why, that’s not possible!” “Mr. Rawson’s seen Gabriel.” Bassett spoke very gently. “And he says he didn’t take Joe over.” “But I don’t understand. He was all ready. I said good-by to him.” “When was that?” “In his room, just a little while before he went. He was waiting there, everything packed and ready, waiting for the boat.” “And he said nothing to you about changing his plans?” “No, I don’t believe he had changed his plans. It was his holiday, he’d been looking forward to it, he was crazy to go.” “Did he make any mention of an interview he’d had with Mr. Bassett?” “No--I don’t think he said a thing about Mr. Bassett.” “And he told you he was going, wanted to go. Was he jolly and good-humored like a person starting on a holiday?” “Yes--why shouldn’t he be? It was what he’d been longing to do for years. After I left him I went to my room and dressed and when I went down-stairs I saw that his bag and fishing-rod, which he told me he’d left by the entrance, were gone, and I thought of course he was. And he has, he’s gone some other way.” Bassett looked at Rawson and murmured: “That’s the explanation.” Rawson went on without noticing: