“Hello!” Robinson said, “I suppose that isn’t an unfair advantage, Mr. Blackburn.  Still, I’d rather she hadn’t been told.”

“He’s told me nothing,” Katherine answered.  “I came back to the corridor; I heard everything you said.”

“Maybe it’s as well,” Robinson reflected.  “It certainly is if what you heard has shown you the wisdom of giving up the whole thing.”

She stared at him without replying.

“Come now,” he wheedled.  “You might tell us at least why you stole and secreted the evidence.”

“I’ll answer nothing.”

“That’s wiser, Katherine,” Graham put in.

She turned on him with a complete and unexpected fury.  The colour rushed back to her face.  Her eyes blazed.  Bobby had never guessed her capable of such anger.  His wonder grew that her outburst should be directed against Graham.

“Keep quiet!” she cried hysterically.  “Don’t speak to me again.  I hate you!  Do you understand?”

Graham drew back.

“Why, Katherine—­”

“Don’t,” she said.  “Don’t call me that.”

The officers glanced at Graham with frank bewilderment.  Rawlins’s materialistic mind didn’t hesitate to express its first thought: 

“Must say, I always thought you were sweet on the lady.”

“Hartley!” Bobby said.  “You have been fair to us?”

“I don’t know why she attacks me,” Graham muttered.

His face recorded a genuine pain.  His words, Bobby felt, overcame a barrier of emotion.

They heard Paredes and Doctor Groom on the stairs.

“What’s this?” the doctor rumbled as he came up.

“I—­I’m sorry I forgot myself,” Katherine said through her chattering teeth.  She turned to Robinson.  “I am going to my room.  You needn’t be afraid.  I shan’t leave it until you come to take me.”

“Truly I hope it won’t be necessary,” the district attorney answered.

She hurried away.  Rawlins grinned at Paredes.

“I’m wondering what the devil you know.”

Robinson made no secret of what had happened.  In reply to the questions of Paredes and the doctor he told of the discovery of the evidence and of the stout hat-pin that had, unquestionably, caused death.  The man made it clear enough, however, that he didn’t care to have Paredes know of Bobby’s plan to spend the night in the old room, and Rawlins, Bobby, and Graham indicated that they understood.

“It’s quite absurd that any one should think Katherine guilty,” the doctor said to Robinson.  “This evidence and its presence in her room are details that don’t approach the heart of the mystery.  That’s to be found only in the old room, and I don’t think any one wants to tempt it again.  In fact, I’m not sure one can learn the truth there and live.  You know what happened to Howells when he tried.  Silas Blackburn went there, and none of us can understand the change that’s taken place.  I have been watching him closely.  So has Mr. Paredes.  We have seen him become grayer.  We have seen his eyes alter.  He sits shaking in his chair.  Since we came back from the grave the man—­if we can call him a man—­seems to have—­shrunk.”