The financier repeated the question.
"I must decline to answer," replied Stott finally.
Shirley left her place and came slowly forward.

Addressing Ryder, she said: "I wish to make a statement." The financier gazed at her in astonishment.

What could she know about it, he wondered, and he waited with curiosity to hear what she was going to say.

But Stott instantly realized that she was about to take the blame upon herself, regardless of the consequences to the success of their cause.

This must be prevented at all hazards, even if another must be sacrificed, so interrupting her he said hastily to Ryder: "Judge Rossmore's life and honour are at stake and no false sense of delicacy must cause the failure of my object to save him.