"I wish he would hurry."
The Panamanian said nothing more, as if he realized the futility of pressing the matter before Doctor Groom should return. Necessary questions surged in Bobby's brain. The two that Paredes had put, however, disturbed his logic.
Katherine, who hadn't spoken since entering, kept her eyes fixed on her uncle. Her lips were slightly parted. She had the appearance of one afraid to break a silence covering impossible doubts.
Bobby called on his reason. His grandfather stood before him in flesh. With the old man, in spite of Paredes's ghastly hint, probably lay the solution of the entire mystery and his own safety. He was about to speak when he heard footsteps in the upper hall. His grandfather glanced inquiringly through the stair-well, asking:
"Who's that up there?"
The sharp tone confessed that fear of the Cedars was active in the warped brain.
"The district attorney," Bobby answered, "a detective, probably
Hartley Graham."
"What they doing here?"
He indicated Paredes.
"What's this fellow doing here? I never liked him."