Geoffrey gave a grotesque and uneasy sigh. “No. I must stand by you, now we’re in for it,” he said. “After all, I’m nearly as much interested in the business as you are, and if we’re really going to find out that this Candover was at the bottom of the forgery business----” “Sh--sh,” said Gerard, who knew how very necessary it was to be cautious in such a shady neighbourhood. So they dropped into a long silence, broken only by occasional whispered remarks, until, as minutes grew into hours, both men grew restless, anxious and suspicious that something untoward had happened. Neither cared to leave the other to go to the lawyer’s in search of Audrey; but when she had been away nearly four hours, the anxiety felt by Gerard grew so keen that he was about to send his cousin on a mission of inquiry, when, to the intense relief of both the young men, they heard the voices of Edgar and Audrey upon the staircase. A moment later the door was thrown open, and the four met, all haggard, pale, excited, and worn out with suspense. “What news?” asked Gerard, as soon as they were all shut in the room, after making a careful survey of the big cupboard in which Geoffrey had concealed himself and of the staircase outside. “Nothing good,” said poor Audrey tearfully, as she let him take her limp, nerveless hand. “You saw Mr. Masson?” “Yes. And told him everything. He listened, asked questions, made notes. But I don’t think he believed one word in ten!” And the poor overwrought woman burst into a flood of tears. “Oh, come, he must have thought something of what you said. He kept you a very long time!” said Gerard. She shook her head. “A good deal of that time,” she said, “I was simply waiting, waiting. For when I had told him everything, he went out of the room, and was away nearly an hour. And when he came back he seemed to have forgotten everything, for he made me go all over it again. Every word. It was heartbreaking. And after all he could give me no hope, no help, no encouragement. He simply got up, wished me good-bye, and said he would write to you.” But Gerard saw that this was much better than it seemed to the unsophisticated woman. “It’s all right,” said he. “Masson never wastes time. If he made you repeat it all it was with an object. Perhaps to see whether you would tell the same story twice.” “But why should he think I wasn’t telling the truth? Why----” “Listen,” said Gerard quietly. “It’s all right. He would never have kept you so long if he hadn’t considered your statement important. Wait patiently now till you get his letter.” “And you, what has happened to you?” asked Audrey curiously. “Something, I’m sure. You both--” and she looked from him to Geoffrey--“have a curious look, as if--as if----”