Bobby smiled.
"I've been enough of a coward," he said, "and, Robinson, I've got to know. I shan't go near the bed. I'll watch the bed from a corner. If the danger's at the bed, as we suspect, it probably won't be able to reach me, but just the same it may expose itself. And Rawlins or you can be outside the broken door in the corridor, waiting to enter at the first alarm."
"Howells had no chance to give an alarm," Robinson muttered. "We'll see later."
But Bobby understood that he would agree, and he forced his new courage to face the prospect.
"Maybe something will turn up," Robinson mused. "The case can't grow more mysterious indefinitely."
But his tone held no assurance. He seemed to foresee new and difficult complications.
When they returned to the hall Bobby shrank from the picture of his grandfather still crouched by the fire, his shoulders twitching, his fingers about the black briar pipe shaking. Groom alone had remained with him. Bobby opened the front door. There was no one in the court.
"Paredes," he said, closing the door, "has gone out of the court. Where's
Katherine, Doctor?"
"She went to the kitchen," the doctor rumbled. "I'm sure I don't know what for this time of night."
After a little Graham and Rawlins came down the stairs. Graham's face was scarred by fresh trouble. Rawlins drew the district attorney to one side.