"So do I. They are such a bar to intelligent conversation. Well, Mrs. Bryant is a lady of birth, who married beneath her. Mr. Bryant was a bully, a sot, a spendthrift, and he lost all his money by fast living. When he became poor, his friends--for strange to say, this unpleasant person had some friends--set him up in an hotel. He was ashamed to stick his own name over his door; so he cast about for another. Perhaps you can tell me what that other name was?" "No." "What a singularly obstinate person you are," said, Fanks, shaking his head. "Believe me, it is no use our wasting time in discussing facts. Be sensible, Mrs. Boazoph, and admit that you are Mrs. Bryant." "No." "Mrs. Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, dressmaker, and decayed gentlewoman." "I don't know her; I never heard her name." "Really!" said Fanks, with gentle pity, "then I must inquire of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, how is it that her sister, Mrs. Bryant, is the notorious Mrs. Boazoph, of London." "You are a fiend!" "And what is Mrs. Bryant, alias Boazoph?" "She is a most unhappy woman; a woman rather to be pitied than blamed." "Ah!" said Fanks, drawing a long breath of satisfaction. "So you admit your identity at last." "I can do nothing else. I do not wish my poor sister to know that I am Mrs. Boazoph. She thinks that I live on the money left to me by my late husband; she does not know that I keep this hotel; that I am the woman who has been mentioned so often in the papers, in connection with thieves, rogues, and detectives. Yes. I admit that I am Mrs. Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer. Who told you?" "Your niece, Anne." "She had no business to do so." "Very probably; but she could not help herself. I forced her to speak; how, it does not matter; but I extracted the truth out of her, Mrs. Bryant." "Call me Mrs. Boazoph," flashed out the woman, "and relieve me of your presence as speedily as possible. What do you wish to know?" "I wish to know the agreement you made with Dr. Binjoy, regarding this crime." "Who is Dr. Binjoy?" "Come now, Mrs. Boazoph, do not let us have another argument. I have neither the time nor the patience to endure one, I assure you. I know more than you think; and I can force you to speak if I so choose. I would rather not choose, if it is all the same to you. Let us conduct this conversation pleasantly, if possible. You know that Dr. Binjoy is the same as Dr. Renshaw?" "Indeed, I do not. How can you prove it?" "Very easily. I followed Dr. Renshaw on his presumed journey to Bombay, and tracked him to Mere Hall at Bournemouth." Mrs. Boazoph quailed, and shrank back. This man knew so much, that she did not know where she stood. For the moment, she did not know what to do; but, unable to deny the identity of Renshaw with Binjoy, she admitted it. "Good!" said Fanks, in a satisfied tone, "we are getting on. And the agreement you made with this man?" "I made no agreement with him."