Vance raised his eyebrows and leaned forward.
“ ‘Cock Robin’?”
“Oh, we all called him that. We did it to tease him, because he didn’t like the nickname.”
“The sobriquet was inevitable,” Vance observed sympathetically. “And it was rather a nice nickname, don’t y’ know. The original Cock Robin was loved by ‘all the birds of the air,’ and they all mourned his passing.” He watched the girl closely as he spoke.
“I know,” she nodded. “I told him that once.—And every one liked Joseph, too. You couldn’t help liking him. He was so—so goodhearted and kind.”
Vance again settled back in his chair; and Markham continued his questioning.
“You mentioned, professor, that you heard Robin and Sperling talking in the drawing-room. Could you hear any of their conversation?”
The old man shot a sidelong glance at his niece.
“Does that question really matter, Markham?” he asked, after a moment’s hesitation.
“It may have some very vital bearing on the situation.”