WHY I went----" She broke off, seeing some bewilderment on the
lawyer's face, and went on: "I think perhaps I'd better tell you
the whole story, Sir James. I've a sort of feeling that you'd
know in a minute if I didn't tell the truth, and so you might as
well know all about it from the beginning. What do you think,
Julius?"

"As you're bent on it, I'd go right ahead with the facts,"
replied the American, who had so far sat in silence.

"Yes, tell me all about it," said Sir James. "I want to know who
Tommy is."

Thus encouraged Tuppence plunged into her tale, and the lawyer
listened with close attention.

"Very interesting," he said, when she finished. "A great deal of
what you tell me, child, is already known to me. I've had
certain theories of my own about this Jane Finn. You've done
extraordinarily well so far, but it's rather too bad of--what do
you know him as?--Mr. Carter to pitchfork you two young things
into an affair of this kind. By the way, where did Mr.
Hersheimmer come in originally? You didn't make that clear?"

Julius answered for himself.

"I'm Jane's first cousin," he explained, returning the lawyer's
keen gaze.

"Ah!"