You know it; what's the use of askin' fool questions ?" The inventor had not known it--until that moment, and he took time to consider before making another remark.

His sister-in-law was employed as housekeeper at some bungalow or other situated in close proximity to the Twin-Lights; that he had discovered since his arrival on the morning train.

Prior to that he had known only that she was in Eastboro for the summer.

Before that he had not been particularly interested in her location.

Since the day, two years past, when, having decided that he had used her and her rapidly depleting supply of cash as long as was safe or convenient, he had unceremoniously left her and gone to New York to live upon money supplied by a credulous city gentleman, whom his smooth tongue had interested in his "inventions," he had not taken the trouble even to write to Emeline.