“You do. You’ve already proved it. Now, Ivy, I won’t exaggerate your danger, but I’ll tell you that I think the only real suspects they have, as yet, are you and me. As I’m not the criminal, and as I shall do my very best to prove that, suspicion may come back on you. I don’t say this to frighten you. I merely state the fact. So, don’t you think yourself that you’d better tell me what you know, and I assure you that I will use the knowledge with discretion.” “Oh, I can’t tell,” and the girl burst into tears. “I can’t tell anybody, and you least of all!” Barry stared. What could such a speech mean? “Please go away,” Ivy moaned. “Go away now, and come tomorrow. Then I’ll decide what to do.” “No,” Barry said sternly; “you know something, and you must tell me. If you refuse I’ll go away, but I’ll send Mr Prescott here—and I’m sure you’d rather tell me—wouldn’t you, Ivy?” Barry’s tone was ingratiating, and too, his words carried conviction. Ivy wiped her eyes and looked at him dolefully. “I don’t know what to do. You see, for me to tell what I know would be mean—oh, worse than mean—it would be too low down for words! And yet—I don’t want to be arrested!” “Then tell—tell me, my girl—you’ll feel better to tell it.” Barry sensed the psychological moment, and knew he must get the story out of Ivy, while she was frightened. If she really knew how little she was suspected, she might never tell. And Barry felt it imperative that her knowledge be revealed. Persuaded by his urgency, Ivy began. “Well, you see, I went there about half past five——” “How do you know the time so well—most people don’t.” “Oh, I don’t know how I know it, but I just happen to. I was due home at six, so I went there at five-thirty, or within a few minutes of that time. Does it matter?” “No; go on.” “Well, I rang the bell, you know, and the door clicked open and I went up and Mr Gleason let me in.” “Yes.” “Well, I hadn’t been there hardly any time at all—not ten minutes, anyhow, when Mr Gleason’s bell rang again. And I said, ‘Who is it?’” “What made you think he would know who it was?” “Don’t know as I did. Guess I just said it—but, anyway—he said—‘It’s Miss Lindsay—I expect her—she mustn’t see you here!’” “What did you do?” “Why, he pushed me through into the dining-room——” “He never used the dining-room——” “Oh, he did sometimes. Well, anyway, the room was there—and he pushed me in, and told me to go through the pantry and down the back stairs and out that way.” “Why did he push you? Weren’t you willing to go?” “Yes, but I was rattled—bewildered. And, I’ve never seen Miss Lindsay, and I was curious to see her. I didn’t mind being found in Mr Gleason’s rooms, but he minded very much. And so he hurried me off, and that’s when he told me he’d give me the bracelet, if I’d sneak off without making a sound.” “And did you?” “Yes; but I waited a minute to try to see Miss Lindsay.” “Did you see her?”