“Four years.” “Where did you first meet him?” “At Koster & Bial’s, where his sister and I were singing together.” “Tell me all you know about Darwin.” “Give me time to collect my thoughts.” “Take all the time you desire.” Carter was succeeding better than he had calculated. At first he did not suspect that Dora felt so bitterly about the manner in which she had been treated by Darwin. He congratulated himself on the move he had made. As he watched Dora, and noted the fleeting shadows crossing her face, he was able to read almost all her thoughts. He saw that she had no compunctions of conscience, no tenderness for Darwin, and that she would tell all she knew about the man. Did she know anything about the mysterious murder at the Red Dragon Inn? The detective was unable to surmise. Finally, Dora raised her eyes, and, gazing straight at Carter, she said: “Dick Darwin is a cousin of Simeon Rich. His mother was a sister of Rich’s father. He was educated in England, and he resided there until he was thirty years of age, when he came to New York to live. “When his father died he inherited a small fortune. He soon ran through it. Then he became connected with several dramatic enterprises, and made money. “Six months ago he took a company out on the road, and he became stranded in Cincinnati. “I sent him money to return to New York. “When he got here he was broke. “For some time he and Rich did not speak, but after he got back to the city they patched up their differences and became as thick as two peas in a pod. Recently he got to going around with Sally Rich, unknown to me, and when I found it out, and chided him for it, he insulted me. “Lately I have noticed that he was quite flush of money. He would not let me know where he got it from. When I would ask him what he was doing he would fly into a towering rage. “To-day when I saw him with Sally Rich I made up my mind to sever our relationship.” Dora stopped talking and drank some wine. “You have not told me _all_ you know about Darwin,” Carter remarked. “How do you know that I have not?” “I can tell from the manner in which you spoke that you have kept something back.” “What do you think I have kept back?” “Was Darwin ever guilty of any crime?” “Why?” “I want to know.” “In England he was arrested for forgery.” “Ah!” “He was released on bail, and he fled to this country.” “What did he forge?” “Checks.” “Then he was never tried?” “No. The charges are still pending against him.” “Is Dick Darwin his right name?” “Yes.” “Were you ever present when he and Rich were together?” “No.” “Don’t you know what business they are engaged in?” “I do not. I wish I did know.” “Did you ever hear Sally or her brother speak of a man named Lawrence?” “Sally Rich once told me that she had an uncle by that name.” “Did she ever speak about him?” “She only said that he died and left her and her brother a lot of money. They had to fight for it in the courts.”