As he paused to wipe his forehead he saw the District Attorney
glance at his watch. The gesture was significant, and Granice
lifted an appealing hand. "I don't expect you to believe me now--
but can't you put me under arrest, and have the thing looked into?"

Allonby smiled faintly under his heavy grayish moustache. He had
a ruddy face, full and jovial, in which his keen professional
eyes seemed to keep watch over impulses not strictly
professional.

"Well, I don't know that we need lock you up just yet. But of
course I'm bound to look into your statement--"

Granice rose with an exquisite sense of relief. Surely Allonby
wouldn't have said that if he hadn't believed him!

"That's all right. Then I needn't detain you. I can be found at
any time at my apartment." He gave the address.

The District Attorney smiled again, more openly. "What do you
say to leaving it for an hour or two this evening? I'm giving a
little supper at Rector's--quiet, little affair, you understand:
just Miss Melrose--I think you know her--and a friend or two; and
if you'll join us. . ."

Granice stumbled out of the office without knowing what reply he
had made.


He waited for four days--four days of concentrated horror.