"I think you would tell me a lie if there was anything to be gained or concealed by it," said the detective, dryly. "You are not far out there," returned Anne, coolly. "I am above petty moral doubts in such circumstances. But in this instance, Mr. Fanks, I have nothing to gain or to lose by telling a falsehood. You saw Mr. Hersham this morning," she added abruptly and irrelevantly. "Yes. Have I you to thank for the alteration in his demeanour?" "You have; I persuaded him to tell you all. Has he done so?" "No; he has postponed the confession for a week." "What foolish weakness," muttered Anne, with a sigh. "I wish he had told you this morning." "Do you? Why?" "Because you may find out that which he wished to hide before he can brace his mind to a confession. I love Edward Hersham dearly, Mr. Fanks; but I can see his faults and weakness of character as plainly as you can. I entreated him to tell you all at once. He consented; yet you see when it comes to the point his feebleness makes him shrink from the ordeal." "You hint at danger to Hersham. May I ask if it is connected with the committal of this crime? "No, you may not, Mr. Fanks. Edward can tell you the truth for himself in a week; he is foolish but he is not guilty." Fanks was at once piqued and delighted with this woman. She was so clever and so inscrutable that he could not help respecting her. For the first time for many days he had met with a woman with the mind of a man; and he felt that he would need all his intelligence to beat her. On the other hand, he was not unprepared to expect defeat in place of victory. "What would you say, Miss Colmer, if I told you that I had found the assassin of Sir Gregory?" he asked, craftily. "I should at once congratulate you, and doubt you," was the quick response. "No, Mr. Fanks, you are not yet successful, else you would not come to see me, nor would you be astonished at seeing the photograph of Mrs. Boazoph." "You know her, it seems?" "I do; but my mother does not know her under that name." "What do you mean?" Miss Colmer made no immediate reply. She compressed her beautiful lips tightly together, and looked out of the window. "I see that I shall have to make a confidant of you, sir," she said, slowly, "although I do not recognise your claim to demand an explanation." "Pardon me, Miss Colmer," said Fanks, with the utmost politeness, "the law gives me every right. By your visit to Half-Moon Street where the murdered man lived you implicated yourself in the matter. I can see by the hints of yourself and Hersham that you both know more than you choose to tell; and as I am deputed to search out the truth, I can call on you to reveal all you know." "I made my confession yesterday." "Was it the truth?" "It was the truth so far as it went." "Ah! then there is more to tell?" "Yes," said Anne, after a pause; "there is more to tell; but not yet, not yet."