"No," agreed Bobsy, "except as it proves that his interest in 'Goldenheart' has lasted for some time."
"Then Goldenheart can't be Miss Vernon," said Joyce, wearily. "It seems to me, Mr. Roberts, that you get nowhere. You make so much of little things----"
"Because we can't get any big piece of evidence. You know yourself, Mrs. Stannard, that our principal clue is the finding of you and Miss Vernon in a situation which _might_ mean the guilt of either of you, and _must_ mean the guilt of one of you."
"Mr. Roberts, I want to say to you very frankly that I wish to be cleared of suspicion. I did not kill my husband. I can't quite believe Miss Vernon did, but at any rate I want the mystery cleared up. I don't know how to set about it myself, and if you don't either, I want to employ some one else. This is no disparagement of your powers, but if you know of any--more experienced Detective----"
"There are plenty of more experienced detectives, Mrs. Stannard, but I am anxious to succeed in this quest myself. Will you not give me a longer time, and if at the end of, say, another week, I have made little or no progress, call on whomever you like."
"Very well. But I must be freed myself. I am willing to spend a fortune, if need be, but I cannot live under this cloud of suspicion."
"Let us work together then. Tell me anything I ask, and you may be able to give me some help. First, can you state positively that no person came in through the Billiard Room and went on to the studio while you were in the Billiard Room, just before the tragedy?"
"Yes. Not brilliantly, but a few lights were on."
"And,--now think carefully,--could you not have been sitting with your back to the door, or--perhaps, had you your face hidden in your hands, or for any such reason, could some one have passed you without your knowing it?"
Joyce hesitated a moment, and then she said, "No; positively not. I was sitting on one of the side seats, and I may have had my eyes closed, for I was thinking deeply, but if any one had passed through the room I should have heard footsteps, of course."
"Much of the floor is bare, and my hearing is very acute. Yes, Mr. Roberts, I must have heard the intruder, if one came in that way."