For one brief instant he thought the mask had dropped from those weary, disillusioned eyes. For one instant only.

They all began to speak at once. Gradually Miss Morrow made herself heard above the din. “We must take this coolly,” she said, and Barry Kirk admired her composure. “Naturally, we are all under suspicion. We -“

“What? I like that!” Mrs. Dawson Kirk was speaking. “Under suspicion, indeed -“

“The room was in complete darkness,” Miss Morrow went on. “There was considerable moving about. I don’t like to stress my official position here, but perhaps you would prefer my methods to those of a police captain. How many of you left this room during the showing of Colonel Beetham’s pictures?”

An embarrassed silence fell. Mrs. Kirk broke it. “I thought the pictures intensely interesting,” she said. “True, I did step into the kitchen for a moment -“

“Just to keep an eye on my domestic arrangements,” suggested Barry Kirk.

“Nothing of the sort. My throat was dry. I wanted a glass of water.”

“You saw nothing wrong?” inquired Miss Morrow.

“Aside from the very wasteful methods that seemed to be in vogue in the kitchen - nothing,” replied Mrs. Kirk firmly.

“Mrs. Tupper-Brock?” said Miss Morrow.

“I was on the sofa with Miss Garland,” replied that lady. “Neither of us moved from there at any time.” Her voice was cool and steady.

“That’s quite true,” the actress added.

Another silence. Kirk spoke up. “I’m sure none of us intended a discourtesy to the Colonel,” he said. “The entertainment he gave us was delightful, and it was gracious of him to honor us. I myself - er - I was in the room constantly - except for one brief moment in the garden. I saw no one there - save -“

Chan stepped forward. “Speaking for myself, I found huge delight in the pictures. A moment I wish to be alone, in order that I may digest great events flashed before me on silvery screen. So I also invade the garden, and meet Mr. Kirk. For a time we marvel at the distinguished Colonel Beetham - his indomitable courage, his deep resource, his service to humanity.