The detective chafed.
"If you've finished admiring my badge," he said with heavy sarcasm, "I'd like to know what you were doing on the terrace." The young man hesitated--shot an odd, swift glance at Dale who ever since his abrupt entrance into the room, had been sitting rigid in her chair with her hands clenched tightly together.
"I've had some trouble with my car down the road," he said finally.

He glanced at Dale again.

"I came to ask if I might telephone." "Did it require a flashlight to find the house ?" Miss Cornelia asked suspiciously.
"Look here," the young man blustered, "why are you asking me all these questions ?" He tapped his cigarette case with an irritated air.
Miss Cornelia stepped closer to him.
"Do you mind letting me see that flashlight ?" she said.
The young man gave it to her with a little, mocking bow.

She turned it over, examined it, passed it to Anderson, who examined it also, seeming to devote particular attention to the lens.

The young man stood puffing his cigarette a little nervously while the examination was in progress.