Graham waved his hand.

“Why?” he asked.  “The man is dead.”

With a movement, hidden from Paredes, she indicated Bobby.

“Last time there was a good deal of delay before the doctor came.  If we get him right away he may be able to do something for this poor fellow.  At least his advice would be useful.”

Bobby realized that she was fighting for time for him.  Any delay would be useful that would give them a chance to plan before the police with unimaginative efficiency should invade the house and limit their opportunities.  Graham showed that he caught her point.

“Maybe it’s better,” he said.  “Then, Bobby, telephone Groom to be ready for you, and take my runabout.  It’s in the stable.  You’ll get him here much faster than he could come in his carriage.”

“While I’m gone,” Bobby asked, “what will you do?”

“Watch this room,” Graham jerked out.  “See that no one enters or leaves it, or touches the body.  I’ll hope for some clue.”

“You’ve plenty of courage,” Paredes drawled.  “I shouldn’t care to watch alone in this room.”

He followed Katherine into the corridor.  Bobby looked at Graham.

“You’ll take no chances, Hartley?”

Graham’s smile wasn’t pleasant.

“According to you and the dead detective there’s no risk while you’re out of the house.  Still, I shall be nervous, but don’t worry.”

Bobby joined the others before they had reached the hall.

“Of course Hartley found nothing,” Katherine said to him.

“Nothing,” Paredes answered, “except a very bad temper.”

Katherine’s distaste for the man was no longer veiled.

“You don’t like Mr. Graham,” she said, “but he is our friend, and he is in this house to help us.”

Paredes bowed.

“I regret that the amusement Mr. Graham causes me sometimes finds expression.  He is so earnest, so materialistic in his relation to the world.  That is why he will see nothing psychic in the situation.”

Paredes’s easy contempt was like a tonic for Katherine.  Her fear seemed to drop from her.  She turned purposefully to Bobby, ignoring the Panamanian.

“I shall watch with Hartley,” she said.

He was ashamed that jealousy should creep into such a moment, but her resolve recalled his amorous discontent.  The prospect of Graham and her, watching alone, drawn to each other by their fright and uncertainty, by their surroundings, by the hour, became unbearable.  It placed him, to an extent, on Paredes’s side.  It urged him, when Paredes had gone on downstairs, to spring almost eagerly to his defence.

“As Hartley says,” Katherine began, “he makes you think of a snake.  He must see we dislike and resent him.”

“You and Hartley, perhaps,” Bobby said.  “Carlos says he is here to help me.  I’ve no reason to disbelieve him.”

A little colour came into Katherine’s face.  She half stretched out her hand as if in an appeal.  But the colour faded and her hand dropped.