Joan went straight to the point. “Bob, the police suspect my stepfather of being mixed up with this horrible affair. In fact, I’m sure they think he is actually guilty of murder. They’ve got hold of something that seems to incriminate him.” Ellery made an inarticulate noise of sympathy. “Of course, Bob, you and I know he didn’t do it. You do think he couldn’t have done it, don’t you?” “It would certainly never have occurred to me to suspect him.” “Of course, he’s quite innocent, and it’s all some horrible mistake. He couldn’t have done such a thing. But I want you to help me prove he didn’t.” “My dear Joan, are you quite sure the police really suspect him? Of course, they have to make inquiries about everybody. Why, I was quite under the impression that they suspected me.” “Suspect you? How dreadful! What _do_ you mean?” “Well, I had a most inquisitorial visit from the police this morning; and a man in obvious police boots has been following me about all day.” He spoke lightly; but Joan took what he said very seriously indeed. “My dear Bob,” she said. “This is positively awful. But why ever should any one think you—had anything to do with it?” “Oh, just because I failed to give a ‘satisfactory explanation’—I think that is what they call it—of my movements on Tuesday night. You know I walked home after dinner. Well, I wandered round a bit and didn’t get home till midnight. So they argue that I had plenty of time to kill half a dozen people, and insist that I must either prove an _alibi_—or take the consequences. What do you say? Do you think I did it?” “My dear Bob, don’t joke about it. It’s far too serious, if the police are going to drag you into this terrible business.” “No, really, it isn’t serious at all—now at any rate. I am in a position, fortunately, to produce a conclusive _alibi_. You see, I wasn’t alone, and I’ve found the chap who was with me most of the time, and sent him round to Scotland Yard to tell them it’s all right. I expect the gentleman with the boots will be out of a job before long.” “You’re sure it’s really all right?” “Of course it is, or I shouldn’t have said a word about it. And I dare say what you have heard about the police suspecting old Walter isn’t a bit more serious.” “Oh, but it is. From their point of view, I’m afraid they have a very strong case.” And Joan told him all that she knew—both what she had heard about Charis Lang from Marian Brooklyn, and what Carter Woodman had told her. Finally, she told Ellery that she had made up her mind to go at once to her stepfather, and try to make him tell her the truth.