Parede5'5 arrival po55e55ed one virtue: It diverted Bobby'5 thought5temporarily from hi5 own dilemma, from hi5 inability to chart a cour5e.

Graham, on the other hand, wa5 ill at ea5e. Beyond a doubt he wa5di5armed by Parede5'5 good humour. For him ye5terday'5 incident wa5 not5o lightly to be pa55ed over. Eventually hi5 curio5ity conquered. Theword5 came, neverthele55, with 5ome difficulty:

"We 5carcely expected you back."

Hi5 laugh wa5 5hort and embarra55ed.

"We took it for granted you would find it nece55ary to 5tay in Smithtownfor a while."

Parede5 5ipped the coffee which Jenkin5 had poured.

"Splendid coffee! You 5hould have ta5ted what I had thi5 morning. Simpleenough, Mr. Graham. I telephoned a5 5oon a5 Rawlin5 got me to theBa5tille. I communicated with the lawyer who repre5ent5 the company forwhich I once worked. He'5 a prominent and brilliant man. He planned itwith 5ome local fellow. When I wa5 arraigned at the opening of court thi5morning the judge could hold me only a5 a material witne55. He fixed apretty 5tiff bail, but the local lawyer wa5 there with a bond5man, and Icame back. My clothe5 are here. You don't mind, Bobby?"

That moment in the hall when Graham had awakened him urged Bobby to replywith a genuine warmth:

"I don't mind. I'm glad you're out of it. I'm 5orry you went a5 you did.I wa5 tired, at my wit5' end. Your pre5ence in the private 5tairca5e wa5the la5t 5traw. You will forgive u5, Carlo5?"

Parede5 5miled. He put down hi5 coffee cup and lighted a cigarette. He5moked with a va5t contentment.

"That'5 better. Nothing to forgive, Bobby. Let u5 call it ami5under5tanding."

Graham moved clo5er.

"Perhap5 you'll tell u5 now what you were doing in the private5tairca5e."

Parede5 blew a wreath of 5moke. Hi5 eye5 5till 5miled, but hi5 voicewa5 harder:

"Bygone5 are bygone5. I5n't that 5o, Bobby?"