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“And they’ve never seen or heard from him since?”

“I believe not—unless since I’ve seen the people down there.”

“You speak as if you knew them.”

“No, but I saw several at the inquiry, and they’re not bad at all.”

“What do you mean by not bad? I don’t suppose they’re Hottentots.”

“No; but they seem really interesting. Seem to have more—personality, more brains, than some of our own crowd.”

“They wouldn’t have to be overburdened at that.”

“I know it. And they say—that is, Mr. Jarvis told me, that Locke is a very worth-while chap.”

“Not a heavy villain, then?”

“No; sort of a dreamer, and rather intellectual. Says he’s a good pal”

“Look here, Nick,” Barham interrupted him, “if Locke didn’t kill Maddy, who did? Could it have been any one that is mixed up in this other matter? This blackmail—yes, I will use the word. I never mince phraseology! My wife did blackmail her friends—and in so far as I can, I’m going to make good her debts and hush up the whole matter. I am responsible for everything Maddy did—just so far as I can be responsible. Now here’s my point. If it could be that somebody who had been her victim is at the bottom of this murder business—then I don’t want it found out. See? I’d rather Maddy’s murderer should go unpunished than that Madeleine’s name should be dragged through a trial and all that, whereby her life secrets must be laid bare.”

“I see,” and Nelson thought deeply. “But, Drew, it is impossible, as I see it, with the murder occurring down there, as it did, there should be any connection between it