"I won't say another word." Britz met this altered attitude of Collins with a swift transformation of his own.

His face contracted until every line seemed to harden into an expression of stern determination.
"Do you know why Julia Strong killed herself ?" he snapped.
"Yes," said Collins weakly.
"Why ?" "She threatened to do it a dozen times.

She wanted me to permit my wife to obtain a divorce so I could marry her." Collins had been taken off his guard and Britz found it easy to follow up his advantage.
"You promised to marry her ?" he inquired.
"I never told her so." "But you led her to believe you would ?" "I wasn't responsible for what she believed." "Now I'll tell you something," pursued the detective in a firm, subdued voice.

"An hour before Julia Strong committed suicide she was in my office at Police Headquarters." Collins started as if jarred by a hateful sound.
"I--I--don't believe it," he faltered.
"She was there," said Britz, ignoring the other's remark.

"Moreover, she accused you of having killed Whitmore.