Eve was using all her will power to preserve her poise, but Norma saw at once that she was having difficulty to do so. In kindness of heart, Norma went over to the suffering girl. "Come with me, Eve," she said, softly, "let us go off by ourselves for a while." "Yes, do," said Penny Wise, looking kindly at the two girls. "Zizi, perhaps you can be of use." Zizi followed the other two, and they went to Eve's room. With all the deftness of a nurse, Zizi found some aromatic cologne, and a fresh handkerchief, and in a moment was bathing Eve's temples, with a gentle, soothing touch. "What a funny little piece you are!" said Eve, looking at the small sympathetic face, and speaking in a preoccupied way. "Yes," acquiesced Zizi, while Norma sat by, lost in her own thoughts. "Tell me," said Eve, suddenly roused to energy. "Tell me, Zizi,--you know as much as Mr. Wise does,--tell me, who paid Tracy money?" "What!" cried Norma, "Eve, hush! don't say such things. If anybody did, we don't want to know it!" "We'll have to know it," said Eve, simply, "and, Norma,----" But Norma interrupted her; "No, Eve, we don't have to, at least, we don't have to ask about it, or inquire into it. The detective will do that." "You'll soon _have_ to know," said Zizi, quietly; "indeed you know now, don't you, Miss Carnforth?" "I asked you!" cried Eve, hysterical again. "Tell me, tell me at once, girl!" But Zizi shook her head, and continued to bathe Eve's brow. "Try to be calm," she whispered, "there will be much for you to bear, and you must be brave to bear it." Eve looked at her wonderingly, and seeing deep compassion in the black eyes, she ceased questioning and closed her own eyes. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and rose from her couch. "Thank you, Zizi," she said, "I am all right now. I am going back to join the others. Will you come, Norma?" Dazedly, as one in a dream, Norma rose, and the three went down stairs. Apparently little had been said of importance since they left. There was a tense silence, and Pennington Wise said, "I find I must speak out and tell you the truth. I had hoped for a confession but I see no signs of it. "I was not, strictly speaking, employed by any one of you. I asked to be allowed to investigate this case because it seemed to me the most remarkable one I had ever heard of. I wrote to Professor Hardwick for information concerning it, and finally I arranged to come up here. I brought Zizi, because she is invaluable to me in collecting evidence. Her quick wit, and her dainty personality can compass effects that I can not. I feel, therefore, that it is to Professor Hardwick that I should make my direct report. But as you are all interested, I will ask any of you who choose to do so, to remain and listen. The others may be excused."