"You have no right to ask such questions!" he cried.

"What has this to do with the matter you are investigating ?" "I must repeat the question." "Well, I refuse to answer." "You can refuse to answer; but you must be aware that your refusal is in itself an answer, for you would not refuse if you had not something to conceal." Barker stood for a moment with his face set grimly and his strong black eyebrows drawn low in intense thought.

Then he looked up with a smile.
"Well, I guess you gentlemen are only doing your clear duty after all, and I have no right to stand in the way of it.

I'd only ask you not to worry Mrs.Douglas over this matter; for she has enough upon her just now.

I may tell you that poor Douglas had just one fault in the world, and that was his jealousy.