_Do_ you think it possible it was some other person?
Do you now, really ?" "Didn't your estimable female relative, as you call her, say that I suggested she might be the guilty person ?" demanded Brereton, maliciously.

"Come, now, Mr.Pett! You don't know all that I know!" Pett fell back, staring doubtfully at Brereton's curled lip, and wondering whether to take him seriously or not.

And Brereton laughed and went off--to reflect, five minutes later, that this was no laughing matter for Harborough and his daughter, and to plunge again into the maze of thought out of which it was so difficult to drag anything that seemed likely to be helpful.
He interviewed Harborough again before he was taken back to Norcaster, and again he pressed him to speak, and again Harborough gave him a point-blank refusal.
"Not unless it comes to the very worst, sir," he said firmly, "and only then if I see there's no other way--and even then it would only be for my daughter's sake.

But it won't come to that! There's three weeks yet--good--and if somebody can't find out the truth in three weeks----" "Man alive!" exclaimed Brereton.

"Your own common-sense ought to tell you that in cases like this three years isn't enough to get at the truth! What can I do in three weeks ?" "There's not only you, sir," replied Harborough.