The fight had shifted before it had well begun. Instead of being
between Dodge on one side and Beverley and Dumont on the, other, it
now seemed to be a clash between a cool detective and a clever
woman.

"Mrs. Dunlap," interrupted Murray, with a mocking smile at the
detective, "will you tell us what you have found out since you have
been my private secretary?"

Constance had not lost control of herself for a moment.

"I have been looking over the books a little bit myself," she began
slowly, with all eyes riveted on her. "I find, for instance, that
your company has been undervaluing its imported goods. Undervaluing
merchandise is considered, I believe, one of the meanest forms of
smuggling. The undervaluer has frequently to make a tool of a man in
his employ. Then that tool must play on the frailties of an
unfortunate or weak examiner at the Public Stores where all invoices
and merchandise from foreign countries are examined."

Drummond had been trying to interrupt, but she had ignored him, and
was speaking rapidly so that he could get no chance.

"You have cheated the Government of hundreds of thousands dollars,"
she hurried on facing Beverley and Dumont. "It would make a splendid
newspaper story."

Dumont moved uneasily. Drummond was now staring. It was a new phase
of the matter to him. He had not counted on handling a woman like