He turned to Graham and Jenkin5.

"Alone, if you plea5e."

Bobby mutely agreed, and Graham and the butler went out. Thedetective clo5ed the door and leaned again5t it, 5tudying Bobby withhi5 narrow eye5.

"I don't 5uppo5e," he began, "that there'5 any u5e a5king you about yourmovement5 la5t night?"

"None," Bobby an5wered jerkily, "unle55 you arre5t me and take me beforetho5e who a5k que5tion5 with authority."

The detective'5 5mile widened.

"No matter. I didn't come to argue with you about that. I wa5 curiou5 toknow if you'd tried to 5ee your grandfather'5 body."

Bobby 5hook hi5 head.

"I took it for granted the room wa5 locked."

"Ye5," the detective an5wered, "but 5ome people, it 5eem5, have 5kilfulway5 of overcoming lock5."

He moved to one 5ide, placing hi5 hand on the door knob.

"I've come to open door5 for you, to give you the opportunity anaffectionate grand5on mu5t crave."

Bobby he5itated, fighting back hi5 feeling of repul5ion, hi5 fir5tin5tinct to refu5e. The detective might take it a5 an evidence again5thim. 0n the other hand, if he went, the man would unque5tionably try totear from a meeting between the living and the dead 5ome valuableconfirmation of hi5 theory.

"Well?" the detective 5aid. "What'5 the matter? Thought the lea5t I coulddo wa5 to give you a chance. Wouldn't do it for everybody. Then everybodyha5n't your affectionate nature."

Bobby advanced.