"I've tried. Maybe you'll succeed better than I."
"Then you'll excuse me," Paredes said quickly. "I should like your permission to telephone to my hotel in
New York for some clothing. I want to see this through."
The three looked at each other. Katherine and Graham seemed about to speak. Bobby wouldn't let them.
"Carlos," he said, "you might help me. I'm almost afraid to ask. What happened in the cafe last night? The last
thing I remember distinctly is sitting there with you and Maria and a stranger she had introduced. I didn't get
his name. What did I do? Did any one leave the place with me?"
Paredes smiled a little, shaking his head.
"You behaved as if Mr. Graham's earlier fears had been accomplished. You insisted you were going to catch
your train. I didn't think it wise, so I went to the cloak room with you, intending to see you home. Somehow,
just the same you gave me the slip."
"You oughtn't to have let him get away," Graham said.
Paredes shrugged his shoulders.
"You weren't there. You don't know how sly Bobby was."
"I suppose it's useless to ask," Graham said. "You saw nothing put in his wine?"
Paredes laughed.
"Is it likely? Certainly not. I should have mentioned it. I should have stopped such a thing. What do you think
I am, Mr. Graham?"
"Sorry," Graham said. "You must understand we can't let any lead slip. This stranger Maria brought up?"
"I didn't catch his name," Paredes answered.
"I'd never seen him before. I gathered he was a friend of hers--connected with the profession. Now I shall
telephone with your permission, Miss Katherine; and don't you worry, Bobby. I will see you through; but we
can't do much until the coroner comes, until the detective can be made to talk."
Katherine hesitated for a moment, then she surrendered.
"Please go with him, Hartley, and--and make him as comfortable as you can in this unhappy house."
Katherine detained Bobby with a nod. He saw the others go. He shrank, in his mental and physical discomfort,
from this isolation with her. As soon as the door was closed she touched his hand. She burst out passionately:
"I don't believe it, Bobby. I'll never believe it no matter what happens."
"It's sweet of you, Katherine," he said huskily. "That helps when you don't know what to believe yourself."
"Don't talk that way. Such a crime would never have entered your head under any conditions. Only, Bobby, it