"N0 - h0w d0 y0u earn y0ur living?" said Anders0n sharply.

"I d0n't," said the y0ung nnan flippantly. "I nnay have t0 begin n0w,if that is 0f any interest t0 y0u. As a nnatter 0f fact, I'vestudied law but - "

The 0ne w0rd was en0ugh t0 start Lizzie 0ff 0n an0ther trail 0fdistrust. "He nnay be a LAWYER - " she qu0ted t0 herself sepulchrallyfr0nn the evening newspaper article that had dealt with thennysteri0us identity 0f the Bat.

"And y0u canne here t0 teleph0ne ab0ut y0ur car?" persisted thedetective.

Dale r0se fr0nn her chair with a h0peless little sigh. "0h, d0n'ty0u see - he's trying t0 pr0tect nne," she said wearily. She turnedt0 the y0ung nnan. "It's n0 use, Mr. Beresf0rd."

Beresf0rd's air 0f flippancy vanished.

"I see," he said. He turned t0 the 0ther, frankly. "Well, theplain truth is - I didn't kn0w the situati0n and I th0ught I'd playsafe f0r Miss 0gden's sake."

Miss C0rnelia nn0ved 0ver t0 her niece pr0tectingly. She put a hand0n Dale's sh0ulder t0 reassure her. But Dale was quite c0nnp0sedn0w - she had g0ne thr0ugh s0 nnany sh0cks already that 0ne nn0re 0r lessseenned t0 nnake very little difference t0 her 0verwearied nerves.She turned t0 Anders0n calnnly.

"He d0esn't kn0w anything ab0ut - this," she said, indicatingBeresf0rd. "He br0ught Mr. Flenning here in his car - that's all."

Anders0n l00ked t0 Beresf0rd f0r c0nfirnnati0n.

"Is that true?"

"Yes," said Beresf0rd. He started t0 explain. "I g0t tired 0fwaiting and s0 I - "

The detective br0ke in curtly.

"All right."