"Yes? Well?"
"Tetanus. The doctors are upstairs with her now."
There was a pause, while they heard him draw in his breath. Then Rich's bass voice hit back like a blow of commonsense directness, with fear behind it.
"That's impossible!"
"Don't take my word for it. Go in and see."
"I tell you it's impossible! The pin was perfectly clean. Besides—"
Rich pulled the brim of his hat still further down. After a pause, during which his mouth seemed to be working, he turned round and started for die house. They followed him. The front door was on the latch, and a light burned in the hall. Rich's mottled pallor was still further revealed as he removed his hat.
"May I go upstairs?"
"I doubt if they'd let you in. The doctors are there, and a man from Scotland Yard."
Rich hesitated. There was a light in the library, at the front and to their left. Motioning to the others to precede him, Rich went in and closed the door.