and his mellow voice came more weakly than its wont. There was a
pathetic pleading in the dulled eyes with which he regarded the
Inspector.

"Nothing!" Burke answered. "That's why I sent for you. I
suppose Mr. Demarest has made the situation plain to you."

Gilder nodded, his face miserable.

"Yes," he has explained it to me," he said in a lifeless voice.
"It's a terrible position for my boy. But you'll release him at
once, won't you?" Though he strove to put confidence into his
words, his painful doubt was manifest.

"I can't," Burke replied, reluctantly, but bluntly. "You ought
not to expect it, Mr. Gilder."

"But," came the protest, delivered with much more spirit, "you
know very well that he didn't do it!"

Burke shook his head emphatically in denial of the allegation.

"I don't know anything about it--yet," he contradicted.

The face of the magnate went white with fear.

"Inspector," he cried brokenly, "you--don't mean--"

Burke answered with entire candor.