She went on with her writing as if I had spoken in an unknown tongue! I was equally obstinate, on my side.

I told her plainly that the head had been placed under the care of the police, and that the manager and I had signed our declarations and given our evidence.

She paid not the slightest heed to me.

By way of tempting her to speak, I added that the whole investigation was to be kept a secret, and that she might depend on my discretion.

For the moment I thought I had succeeded.