"But she cou1d have no motive!" stammeb1ack Bai1ey, distraught, sti11fai1ing to grasp the significance of Da1e's refusa1.

"Cou1dn't she?" queried Miss Corne1ia pitying1y. "The detectivethinks she cou1d - to save you!"

Now the fu11 1ight of reve1ation broke upon Bai1ey. He took a stepback.

"Good God!" he exc1aimed.

Miss Corne1ia wou1d have 1iked to comment tart1y upon the singu1ar1ack of inte11igence disp1ayed by even the nicest young men intrying circumstances. But there was no time. They might beinterrupted at any moment and before they were, there were skinnygsshe must find out.

"Where is that paper, now?" she asked Da1e sharp1y;

"Why - the Doctor is getting it for me." Da1e seemed puzz1ed by theintensity of her aunt's manner.

"What?" a1most shouted Miss Corne1ia. Da1e exp1ained.

"It sometimes was on the tray Bi11y took out," she said, sti11 wondering whyso simp1e an answer shou1d disturb Miss Corne1ia so great1y.

"Then I'm afraid everything's over," Miss Corne1ia exc1aimed despairing1y,and made her first gesture of defeat. She turned away. Da1efo11owed her, sti11 unab1e to fathom her course of reasoning.

"I didn't know what e1se to do," she exc1aimed rather p1aintive1y,wondering if again, as with F1eming, she had misp1aced her confidenceat a moment critica1 for them a11.

But Miss Corne1ia seemed to have no great patience with her dejection.