"That is so," and Anita's gaze was a wondering one. "But, Mr. Stone, since the _fact_ of that person in the room is undiscoverable, one can't help forming an opinion. Haven't you one?" "I have." "Oh, what is it?" "I think those words were spoken to some inanimate object, not to a person. Suppose the remark thought to be said to Count Charlier was addressed to his glove, which she was undoubtedly holding at the time." "I never thought of that, because I have assumed that Pauline put that glove in her hand after--after it was all over, to implicate the Count. And, any way, that's only that one remark,--or two. To what inanimate object was she talking when she said 'To-morrow all these jewels may be yours'?" "That I cannot answer. That whole conversation is most mysterious." "Indeed it is, Mr. Stone, under any other hypothesis than that of the presence of Pauline Stuart in her aunt's room at the time!" "May I come in?" and Gray Haviland's good-natured face appeared, as he knocked and opened the door almost simultaneously. "Yes," said Stone, "and I will ask you, Miss Frayne, to leave us. I am getting to work in earnest now, and I want to push things a little." Stone watched the effect of this speech on Anita and was not surprised to see her look at him with startled eyes, as she unwillingly went through the door he held open for her. "What's doing?" asked Haviland, in his breezy way; and Stone replied, frankly: "Lots. Those two girls are sworn foes, aren't they?" "Of late they have seemed to be. The break came a month or more before Miss Carrington died. Two beauties never can remain friends." "They are both beautiful women," agreed Stone. "Which do you think had a hand in the tragedy?" "Good Lord! Neither of them! What are you talking about? That Count man is responsible for the whole thing, Bates and all." "I know you think so, Mr. Haviland, but I can't agree with you. Now, look here, we've got to face things squarely. Take the story Miss Frayne tells, about that mysterious conversation. If it were all a figment of her brain,----" "What! Man, you're crazy! Anita Frayne make that all up out of the solid! Never, in a thousand years! If she said that talk was talked, it _was_ talked, and that's all there is about that! Why or by whom it was talked, is another matter, and as I understand it, that's what you're here to find out. And, between you and me and the arc light, I don't believe you ever will find out." "No?" "No! And this is no aspersion on your powers. I believe that fool Count was in there, and as he'll never admit it, and you'll never believe it, how can it be proved?" "Never mind that, now. Prepare yourself, Mr. Haviland, for some unwelcome questions. You don't want to, but I must insist on your answering them. Which do you consider the more truthful and honest of the two young women I've just been talking to?"