"That's just the point. There may have been,--probably was. But if the story was her own invention, she never would have thought of representing that second voice as inaudible. Now, either she did hear Miss Carrington say those things, or she didn't. I believe she did, because if she hadn't, she must have invented the tale, and if she had invented it, it would have been different. Likewise, Miss Stuart's snake story. If it were not true that her aunt asked her to buy that snake, Miss Stuart must have made up that yarn. And if she had made it up, it would have been different. That's always my test for the truth of an amazing statement. If the teller were falsifying, would he tell it that way? If so, then it is probably a lie: if not, then probably it is a true bill. Now they say Miss Carrington had a high, shrill voice. Did you ever hear it, Hardy?" "No. I never knew the lady. But I've heard a record of it on the phonograph, and it is high, and rather thin." "On the phonograph? How does that happen?" "Gray Haviland is a dabster at that sort of thing, and he has people sing for him and make records frequently. And once I heard that they had a record of the dead woman's singing, and I asked to hear it, merely out of curiosity or a general interest. And it contained some spoken words too, and her speaking voice is high and shrill, just such as would carry through a closed door. You can, of course, hear the record, if you care to." "I do care to. I'll make a note of that. Now, here's another thing. Miss Stuart has declared that she obliterated a footprint which was noticeable in that powder scattered by the dressing-table." "Yes, I know it. And Haviland states that it was he who wiped out that print! What do you make of that?" "That Haviland did do it, and Miss Stuart fibbed about it to shield Haviland." "Oh, so it's Haviland you think Miss Pauline is shielding?" "I think it may be; at any rate, she suspects some one dear to her and----" "You're 'way off, Mr. Stone! If you'll excuse my saying so, Miss Stuart has pulled the wool over your eyes until you don't know where you're at." Fleming Stone gasped. Pulled wool over his eyes! Over the eyes, the gimlet eyes, the all-seeing eyes of Fleming Stone! What could the man mean? And this so-called wool pulled by a woman! What unheard-of absurdity! "Mr. Hardy,----" he began. "Yes, yes, I know. Nothing of the sort, and all that. But it's true, Mr. Stone. Miss Stuart is a siren from Sirenville. She can make any man think black is white if she chooses. And she has been bullied and cowed by that old aunt of hers for years, and for my part, I don't blame her for getting to the end of her rope. If she----" "Stop! Mr. Hardy, I know you think you're right, but you are not! Do you hear, you are not! And I'll prove it to you, and that soon! I'll ferret out this thing, and I'll do it on this new theory of mine whether you believe it or not!"