As it happened, the men were all in the hall talking with Wise when Stebbins arrived, so Zizi went in search of the women. They were congregated in Milly's room, and as they came downstairs, the detective noted their expressions, a favourite method with him of gaining information.
Milly's round little face was so red and swollen with weeping, that it excited only compassion in any observer. Norma, too, was sad and frightened-looking, but Eve was in a defiant mood, and her scarlet lips were curved in a disdainful smile.
"As we're all at one in our search for the criminal," Wise began, tactfully, "I think it best that we should hear, all together, Mr. Stebbins' explanation of how this house may be entered from outside, though apparently locked and bolted against intrusion."
"I should think, Mr. Wise," said Eve, scornfully, "that if there were such a possibility, your detective genius ought to have discovered it."
"He couldn't," said Stebbins, simply. "It ain't a means that any one could discover."
"Then how did the criminal find it out?" demanded Eve.
"He must have seen me come in by it," Stebbins replied. "Nobody could ever suspect the real way."
"Oh, come now," said Zizi, "Mr. Wise does know. He is not at all vain glorious, or he would tell you himself. But he prefers to let Mr. Stebbins tell."
"Is that so, Mr. Wise?" asked Professor Hardwick, eagerly. "If you have discovered the secret entrance, I wish you would say so. I feel chagrined that my own reasoning powers have given me no hint."
"I have satisfied myself of the means and the location of the entrance," Wise returned, "but I have not examined the place definitely enough to find the hidden spring that must be there."
"You know that much!" cried Stebbins, in amazement.
"Yes, largely by elimination. There are no hollow walls, no false locks, no sliding panels,--it seems to me there is no logical hidden entrance, but through one of those columns," and he pointed to the great bronze columns that flanked the doorway.
"By golly!" and Stebbins stared at the speaker. "You've hit it, sir!"
"I could, of course, find the secret spring, which must be concealed in the ornamentation," Wise went on, "but I've hesitated to draw attention to the columns by working at them. Suppose we let Mr. Stebbins tell us, and not try to find what we know must be cleverly concealed."