To her mind questioning Billy was wasting time.

She looked at the Unknown.
"Solve the mystery of this man and we may get at the facts," she said in accents of conviction.
As Bailey turned toward her questioningly, Billy attempted to steal silently out of the door, apparently preferring any fears that might lurk in the darkness of the corridor to a further grilling on the subject of whom or what he had seen on the alcove stairs.

But Bailey caught the movement out of the tail of his eye.
"You stay here," he commanded.

Billy stood frozen.

Beresford raised the candle so that it cast its light full in the Unknown's face.
"This chap claims to have lost his memory," he said dubiously.