“I beg your pardon?” said Hall listlessly.
I wondered whether this asking to have a remark repeated was merely a foolish habit of Hall's, or whether, as I had heretofore guessed, it was a ruse to gain time.
Fleming Stone looked at him a little more sharply as he repeated his remark in clear, even tones.
“Thank you,” said Hall, pleasantly enough. “I shall be glad to be free from this unjust suspicion.”
“And as a bit of friendly advice,” went on Stone, “I strongly urge that you, reveal to us, confidentially, where you were on Tuesday night.”
Hall looked the speaker straight in the eye.
“That,” he said, “I must still refuse to do.”
Fleming Stone rose and walked toward the window.
“I think,” he said, “the proof of your innocence may depend upon this point.”
Gregory Hall turned his head, and followed Stone with his eyes.