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"There is no occasion to apologise, Fay. My house is always open to my friends. And now, gentlemen, if you wish to talk further to Miss Perigal, I would suggest that you use the study. The guest room is vacant, Fay, and you are more than welcome to it. I will leave a note for Wake, who will bring your morning coffee and take your orders for breakfast, at which I shall look forward to joining you. I should be glad, Chief Inspector, of your permission to retire for the purpose to which I have already referred."

But Fay continued to clutch the sleeve of his linen robe. It was a physical expression of a bleak mental loneliness; a quest of sympathy, of understanding.

"Marcus!" He paused, as he was about to draw back the curtain. "Is she in there?"

"Yes," he answered mildly.

Fay crept closer to him. "But surely, Marcus, you promised me that you would give this business up?"

"When the experiment of to-night should be completed, Fay; such was the understanding. I regret to say that Fate has intervened to make it a failure." He turned to Firth. "My cousin is obviously much overwrought. I count upon you to spare her unnecessary questioning. She knows no more than I know. Until breakfast, Fay."