"I don't know," she returned. "I can't make out."
"Then you are a poor assistant for a detective. How long has Miss de Barryos been ill?"
"Only a few days."
"What caused it?"
"She tripped over a stool in leaving Miss Chalmers' room and hurt her head. She was unconscious for so long that the doctor feared concussion of the brain; but she seems to have avoided that extremity, though she is not in the least like herself. There are times when I think she has lost her mind. She rarely ever speaks, but sits by the window doing nothing, apparently not even thinking."
"Humph!" muttered Stolliker, remembering the suddenly dawning interest in the sunken eyes.
"How long has this been going on?"
"It was a week ago yesterday that the accident happened."
"She and Miss Chalmers were great friends?"