But we are well protected now.

And besides, why should this person remain in the house?
The murder is done, the police are here." "True," he said.

"I only thought--" But a knocking at the terrace door interrupted him.

While the attention of the others was turned in that direction Dale, less cynical than her aunt, made a small plea to him and realized before she had finished with it that the Doctor too had his price.
"Doctor--did you get it ?" she repeated, drawing the Doctor aside.
The Doctor gave her a look of apparent bewilderment.
"My dear child," he said softly, "are you sure that you put it there ?" Dale felt as if she had received a blow in the face.
"Why, yes--I--" she began in tones of utter dismay.

Then she stopped.
The Doctor's seeming bewilderment was too pat--too plausible.