“He—he came out of his room and knocked on ’Nita’s door. He’s crazy about ’Nita.”
“Did you see anyone else?” asked Landis quickly.
“I saw Stimson. He came out of the dining-room and hurried along the hall toward the front.”
“Anyone else?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“What became of your uncle?”
“I turned back to put on my dress and see what had happened. When I came out on the balcony again, Uncle Joel was wandering back toward his own room. He went in and shut the door and I hurried downstairs. When I got to the foot I heard somebody behind me and looked back. It was ’Nita running down after me. But I didn’t wait for her.”
“She was coming from her room, I suppose?”
“I suppose so. Why, no, she wasn’t! She was coming down the other flight, the one toward the wing. It would be absurd for her to come that way from her room, wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose it would,” Bernard admitted. “Do you know of anyone having quarreled with your father recently?”