“Exactly,” Mason said, “and, I take it, they were rather important questions; and since this interesting information which has been uncovered about Karr’s former partner has been purely fortuitous, I naturally am wondering just what really caused this visit. Or is Miss Wickford an undercover associate?”

Tragg said, “Well, I’ll relieve your curiosity on that, Mason. I came up here to find out about a telephone.”

“What telephone?” Mason asked.

“A telephone which seems to have been something more than a telephone, one in which I thought Karr might have some interest.”

Karr said wearily, “I’m not interested in telephones. I’m a sick man, and the experiences of the afternoon haven’t done me any good.”

Gow Loong said, “Massah should have gone bed long time ago. Maybe-so go now.”

Karr said, “All right, Gow Loong.”

“Just a moment,” Tragg ordered. “I want to ask a couple more questions.”

“Massah sick,” Gow Loong said. “No can talk.”

“About that telephone,” Tragg insisted, putting a hand on Karr’s wheelchair.