“Yes, please.” Olive’s fingers closed upon his arm. “Lead me to it,” she screamed.
He took them into the dining room. Caldenas was in an ecstasy, but Ellen interrupted impatiently. She pushed by the others, passed through the salon again and out into the hall.
“It’s the bedrooms I want to see.” She hurried up the stairs, with a malicious look at Alexis.
Olive, clinging to his arm like a sack of potatoes, he followed as swiftly as possible, Gerald and the puzzled Spaniard brought up the rear.
Ellen turned into the corridor and stopped before Anne’s door. She tried the knob.
“It’s locked!” she exclaimed, challenging Alexis with her eyes. “I’m sure this must have been Karzimova’s room. Do let us in. I’m crazy to see it.”
Very pale, Alexis disentangled himself from Olive and stepped forward quickly.
“I haven’t the key.” He leaned against the wall to conceal trembling knees. “Karzimova stipulated it should not be used in her absence.”
“Bluebeard, give us the key! Whom are you concealing in there?”
“I think you’re mean,” broke in Olive. “I want to go in, too. They say she is so wicked, you know. Full of secret vices.” She opened empty eyes at the group to inquire plaintively, “What are secret vices?”