It was--obvious." "All the same, Stafford put it rather--shall we say, brusquely," remarked Copplestone.

"Of course, he's terribly upset about Oliver's disappearance, and he didn't consider the effect of his words.

And it was rather a surprise to hear that Oliver had known some man of your cousin's name over there in America, wasn't it ?" "And that Mr.Oliver should mysteriously disappear just after making such an announcement," said Audrey.

"That certainly seems very surprising." The two looked at each other, a question in the eyes of each, and Copplestone knew that the trouble in the girl's eyes arose from inability to understand what was already a suspicious circumstance.
"But after all, that may have been a mere coincidence," he hastened to say.

"Let's hope things may be cleared.