She had impressed him with a certain reluctant respect for her own opinion, in spite of himself.
'Have you thought of any better way of arriving at the truth ?' he asked.

'Who is to help us?
No doubt there is the Countess, who has the clue to the mystery in her own hands.

But, in the present state of her mind, is her testimony to be trusted--even if she were willing to speak?
Judging by my own experience, I should say decidedly not.' 'You don't mean that you have seen her again ?' Agnes eagerly interposed.
'Yes.

I disturbed her once more over her endless writing; and I insisted on her speaking out plainly.' 'Then you told her what you found when you opened the hiding-place ?' 'Of course I did!' Henry replied.

'I said that I held her responsible for the discovery, though I had not mentioned her connection with it to the authorities as yet.