"Yes," said Alan. "Let's sit down, Ed. How are you, Charlie?" We sat down. Charlie stood before us. "I've been playing tennis. Is the doc coming here to see you?" His face clouded. "You're all right, aren't you? My mother said--" He was addressing me. "My mother said--but look here, don't pay any attention to your mother if she says you're sick. Don't you do it! I did it, and my mother said I'll put you in here and make you well. So look what happened to me--I'm in here." I met Alan's glance. Alan said: "Well, that's fine, Charlie. And you're better, aren't you?" "Yes." He hesitated; then he added: "I'm better, and I'd like to help you get better. I was thinking that, last time I saw you. I like you--very much." "Do you, Charlie? That's nice of you." "Yes. You're a friend of mine--'Friends sturdy and true' I was thinking--that's us." He turned suddenly away. He took a step toward the window, and came back. His face had wholly changed; a look of cunning was on it; his voice low, quivering, dramatic. "You were looking out there when I came in. Strange things go on out there--but you can't see them in the daytime!" "Can't you?" said Alan. "I was looking--" "I've seen them--at night. I've got a way to see them any time I want to. From the roof. If you get put in here--I'll show you--maybe. Because we're friends." * * * * * It galvanized Alan into action. He jumped to his feet and gripped Charlie. "I'd like you to show me." "Yes, I can do it. There's a girl came this morning. I saw her--" "A girl?" "Beautiful girl. She was beautiful--I saw her. They took her upstairs. I know where." Alan gestured to me. "Watch out if anybody comes! Charlie, tell me!" I moved nearer the corridor entrance. Alan and Charlie stood by the window. I could hear them. "She's sick, but her mother didn't bring her. Men brought her--in a taxi like I saw you come in." "Charlie, if I should come here--" "I've got a key to the roof. You're not allowed up there. Nobody's ever been up there but me. I'm too smart for them--'Keys to open Bluebeard's room'--you can't open anything without a key. Keys to open Bluebeard's--" "Charlie, stop that!" "Well, I have. It's dark. Nothing ever happens in the light. You can see it from the roof, because you're higher up and you can look down inside." "Inside what?" "His laboratory. That's what they call it. 'Four walls to hide what devils do'--that's Shakespeare. I studied it, when I was in school. But mother said I was sick--" "Wait, Charlie. That girl--" "She's sick, I guess. We're all sick. But she was frightened, too. I'm not frightened. I passed them in the hall. She looked at me--I saw she was frightened. I said then to myself I guess I can help that girl. I'm smart--I've got keys." If Turber should come! But the corridor was empty. "You know which room is the girl's, Charlie?" "Yes." "You've got a key to it?" "Key? I've got a key to Bluebeard's closet--"