In the Best Families

“You gentlemen, I said, “want only one thing, to crack the case. It certainly won't help if I shut my trap and breathe through my nose. It certainly won't hurt if I converse with Miss Darrow in your presence.

“Let him, Lina said belligerently. “I knew he would deny it.

“What do you want to ask her? Archer demanded,

“The best way to find that out is to listen. I turned to Lina. “When I saw you yesterday afternoon, coming out of his apartment, I thought something was stirring. It was rude the way you went right by me.

She met my gaze but had no comment.

“Was it yesterday, I asked, “that he treated you badly?

“Not only yesterday, she said evenly. “But yesterday he refused definitely and finally to marry me.

“Is that so bad? I mean, a guy can't marry everyone.

“He had said he would-many times.

“But hadn't you been keeping your fingers crossed? After all, it was a kind of special situation. He knew that you knew something that would get him arrested for murder if you spilled it-not to mention other criminal things, whatever they were. Didn't it occur to you that he might be kidding you along for security reasons?

“Yes, I-yes, it did, but I didn't want to believe it. He said he loved me. He made love to me-and I wanted him for my husband. She decided that wasn't adequate and improved on it. “I wanted him so much! she exclaimed.

Til bet you did. I tried not to sound sarcastic. “How do you feel about it now?

Do you think he ever loved you?

“No, I don't! I think he was heartless and cruel. I think he was afraid of me.

He just wanted me not to tell what I knew. And I began to suspect-the way he acted-and yesterday I insisted that we must be married immediately, this week, and when I insisted he lost his temper and he was-he was hateful.

“I know he's got a temper. Was there any urgent reason for wanting to get married quick, like expecting a visitor from heaven, for instance a baby?

She flushed and appealed to Archer. “Do I have to let him insult me?

“I beg your pardon, I said stiffly, “but you seem to be pretty sensitive for a woman who was hell-bent to marry a murderer. Did-

“I didn't know he was a murderer! I only knew if I told about what Mrs Rackham told me and what he told me-I knew he would be suspected even more than he was.

“Uh-huh. When the blow-up came yesterday, did you threaten to tell what you knew?

“Yes.