But Graham's savage determination increased. He sounded each panel. None gave the slightest revealing
response. He got a tape from Katherine and measured the dimensions of the room, the private hall, and the
corridor. At last he turned to Bobby, his anger dead, his face white and tired.
"Everything checks," he admitted. "There's no secret room, no way in or out. Logically Groom's right. We're
fighting the dead who resent the intrusion of your grandfather and Howells."
He laughed mirthlessly.
"After all, we can't surrender to that. There must be another answer."
"From the first Howells was satisfied with me," Bobby said.
Graham flung up his hands.
"Then tell me how you got in without disturbing those locks. I grant you, Bobby, you had sufficient motive
for both murders, but I don't believe you have two personalities, one decent and lovable, the other cruel and
cunning to the point of magic. I don't believe if a man had two such personalities the actions of one would be
totally closed to the memory of the other."
Bobby smiled wanly.
"It isn't pleasant to confess it, Hartley, but I have read of such cases."
"Fiction!"
"Scientific fact."
"I wish to the devil I had shared your room with you to-night," Graham muttered. "I might have furnished you
an alibi for this affair at least."
"Either that," Bobby answered frankly, "or you might have followed me and learned the whole secret.
Honestly, isn't that what you were thinking of, Hartley? And I did go to sleep, telling myself it would help me
if something of the sort happened to Howells. Now I'm not so sure that it will. I--I suppose you've got to
notify the police."
Graham held up his hand.
"What's that? In the corridor!"
There were quiet footsteps in the corridor. Bobby turned quickly, Paredes strolled slowly through the passage,
a cigarette held in his slender, listless fingers. Bobby stared at him, remembering his surprise a few minutes
ago that the Panamanian should have sat up so late, should have been, probably, in the court when they had
followed Katherine to the discovery of this new crime.
Paredes paused in the doorway. He took in the tragic picture framed by the sinister room without displaying
the slightest interest. He continued to hold his cigarette until it expired. Then he crossed the threshold.
Graham and Bobby watched the expressionless face. Gracefully Paredes raised his finger and pointed to the
bed. When he spoke his voice was low and pleasant:
"Appalling! I feared something of the kind when I heard you come to this room."