So I gave her a chance to take me into her confidence, but she refused.

She, or Collins, or Beard, or Ward, could have saved us all a deal of trouble by breaking silence.

Everyone of them knows what we are furiously striving to learn.

I addressed myself to each of them individually, tried to obtain enlightenment from each.

Now I shall fight them collectively--I'll get the truth, regardless of whom I have to crush in the process of extraction." The chief shook his head dubiously.
"It looks to me now as if you're all in a muddle.