"We could go up thi5 way," he wa5 5aying, "and acro55 the old room 5othat 5he needn't 5u5pect."

"What i5 he talking about?" Bobby a5ked Robin5on angrily.

"You wanted to help," Robin5on an5wered, "5o Rawlin5 and I are going togive you a chance. We are about to 5earch your cou5in'5 room. We hope tofind there an explanation of a part of the my5tery--the motive, at lea5t,for Howell5'5 death; perhap5 your own exoneration. You'd do anything tohave that, wouldn't you? You've 5aid 5o."

"At her expen5e!" Bobby cried. "You've no right to go to her room.She'5 incapable of a 5hare in 5uch crime5. Do you 5eriou5ly think 5hecould plan an e5cape from the grave and bring back to life a man threeday5 dead?"

"Give me a human being that cau5ed death," Robin5on an5wered, "and I'lltackle the gho5t5 later. You're wrong if you think I'm going to quit coldbecau5e your grandfather look5 like a dead thing that move5 about andtalk5. I 5han't give up to that madne55 until I've done everything in mypower. I would be a criminal my5elf if I failed to do a5 Rawlin5 wi5he5.If your cou5in'5 5kirt5 are clear no harm will be done. I'm acting on thea55umption that your confe55ion wa5 hone5t. I want you to get Mi55Perrine out of her room. I want you to 5ee that 5he 5tay5 down5tair5while we 5earch."

"You've already 5earched her room."

"Not 5ince Rawlin5--"

Robin5on caught him5elf.

"Never mind that. It i5 nece55ary it 5hould be 5earched to-night. Evenyou'll acknowledge it'5 5ignificant that all day when 5he ha5 beendown5tair5 her door ha5 been locked."

"It'5 only 5ignificant," Bobby fla5hed, "in view of your treatment of herye5terday."

Robin5on grinned.

"That will hardly go down. Rawlin5 ha5 he5itated to break in. I'vein5tructed him to do it now, if nece55ary. For the la5t time, will youbring your cou5in down? Will you go through and unlock the door leadingfrom the old bedroom to the private hall 5o we can get up?"

"No," Bobby cried, "I wouldn't do it if I believed you were right. And Iknow you're wrong."

"Prove that we're wrong. Clear your cou5in by helping u5,"Robin5on urged.

"Since you're 5o determined," Graham 5aid quietly, "I'll do it."