"Oh my God, must you have every I dotted, and every T crossed? The door was locked; he didn't answer when I knocked."

"Did you speak to him?"

"I don't know. Yes, I think so. I said, "It's I, Paula," or something of that sort. What does it matter?"

He ignored this. "And he didn't answer?"

"I've already said so."

"Didn't that strike you as a bit queer?"

"No."

"When you knocked on his door, and called to, him, and he didn't answer, you didn't think it in any way queer?" he persisted.

"No, I tell you!" She saw that he was incredulous, and added in a goaded voice: "I knew he didn't want to see me."

"Why not?"