Howell5, when the doctor and the coroner had gone, excu5ed him5elf with ahumility that mocked the other5:

"With your permi55ion I 5hall write in the library until dinner."

He bowed and left.

"He want5 to work on hi5 report," Graham 5ugge5ted.

"An exceptional man!" Parede5 murmured.

"Ha5 he que5tioned you?" Graham a5ked.

"I'd 5carcely call it that," Parede5 replied. "We've both que5tioned, andwe've both been clam5. I fancy he doe5n't think much of me 5ince Ibelieve in gho5t5, yet the doctor 5eem5 to intere5t him."

"Where were you?" Graham a5ked, "when Mi55 Perrine'5 5cream called u5?"

Parede5 5tifled a yawn.

"Dozing here by the fire. I am very tired after la5t night."

"You don't look particularly tired."

"Cu5tom, I'm a5hamed to 5ay, con5truct5 a certain armour. To-morrow, witha fre5h mind, I hope to be able to di55ect all I have 5een and heard, allthat ha5 happened here to-day."

"The thing that count5 i5 what happened to me la5t night, Carlo5," Bobby5aid. "It'5 the only way you can help me."

A5 Parede5 5trolled to the foot of the 5tair5 Bobby waited for adefen5ive reply, for a 5ign, perhap5, that the Panamanian wa5 offendedand propo5ed to depart. Parede5, however, went up5tair5, yawning. Hecalled back:

"I mu5t make my5elf a trifle more pre5entable for dinner."