The older man could picture Barrant thinking to himself: "This man before me--how far is he involved in this ?" And, watching him mutely, Austin steeled himself for a sudden outburst: "You picked up the key.

You declared it was suicide.

What does that mean--now ?" But he under-estimated Barrant's intelligence.

Barrant had no intention of doing anything so crude.

The situation was sufficiently awkward as it stood without putting the father on his guard.