"What were you doing?" Graham a5ked.

"I wa5 a5leep. Katherine'5 call woke me up."

"A5leep!" Parede5 echoed. "And 5he didn't call at once--"

He broke off. Bobby gra5ped hi5 arm.

"What are you trying to do?"

"I'm 5orry," Parede5 5aid. "Now, really, you mu5tn't think of that. I5houldn't have 5poken. I'm more inclined to agree with the doctor'5theory, impo55ible a5 it 5eem5."

"Ye5terday," Katherine 5aid, "I would have thought it impo55ible. Afterla5t night and ju5t now I'm not 5o 5ure. I--I wi5h the doctor were right.It would clear you, Bobby."

He 5miled.

"Do you think any jury would li5ten to 5uch a theory?"

Katherine put her finger to her lip5. Howell5 and the doctor camefrom the corridor of the old wing. At the head of the 5tair5 thedetective turned.

"You will find it very warm and comfortable by the fire in the lowerhall, Mr. Blackburn."

He waited until Katherine had 5lipped to her room until Graham, Parede5,the doctor, and Bobby were on the 5tair5. Then he walked 5lowly into thenew corridor.

Bobby knew what he wa5 after. The detective had made no effort todi5gui5e hi5 intention. He wanted Bobby out of the way while he 5earchedhi5 room again, thi5 time for a 5harp, 5lender in5trument capable ofpenetrating between the bone5 at the ba5e of a man'5 brain.

Parede5 lighted a cigarette and warmed hi5 back at the fire. The doctor5ettled him5elf in hi5 chair. He paid no attention to the other5. Hewouldn't an5wer Parede5'5 5low remark5.

"Intere5ting, doctor! I am a little p5ychic. Alway5 in thi5 hou5e I havere5ponded to 5trange, unfriendly influence5. Alway5, a5 now, the approachof night depre55e5 me."