He turned to Brady. “Carrol found that earring right here under the bed. We caught him just as he finished squirreling around down there to find it. It seems Dr. Clayton thought he was in the clear with McKay’s trial coming up so soon and everything looking so damning against him. So he figured that the blackmail he was paying Carrol to shut up was really a waste of money. That was what was on your mind, wasn’t it, Dr. Clayton? Don’t try to bluff.”

Clayton’s lips were drawn together in a tight, grim line. His face had turned deathly pale. He did not speak.

Lowry nodded. “You’d better hold still, doctor. That’s a lot more sensible than all the business of righteous indignation that you were pulling a little while ago.”

Lowry turned to Brady. “You see, Brady, up to this time all that Carrol had to go on was one bit of information: the knowledge that Dr. Clayton was the boyfriend who was supposed to be giving Doris Blair the life of luxury she craved in return for the favors of her lily-white body. That was enough to make Dr. Clayton pay up, but, as I said, it began sooner or later to seem to him that with McKay taking the rap he had nothing to worry about anymore. So he must have told Carrol where to head on the blackmail deal. You still with me, Brady?”

“Go ahead,” the detective said tightly.

“Imagine Carrol’s position. It was his word against Dr. Clayton’s if he decided to go to the police with the story. The word of a shady character like Carrol against that of a highly respected member of the community like the doctor. Besides, Carrol wasn’t interested in going to the police. That wouldn’t have netted much for him. What he was really interested in was getting a way to squeeze more blackmail money out of the doctor. So he came here in the hope that he’d find some concrete evidence with which he could frighten Dr. Clayton into paying more money. I forgot about the gun and you gentlemen didn’t notice it. It was an awful mistake to have left Dr. Clayton alone with Carrol for those few minutes. Dr. Clayton thought Carrol was the only man who stood between him and his freedom.”

Brady and the police were watching Dr. Clayton. They were all watching him as he began to crumble, as the firm, strong mouth began to twitch nervously, as the handsome features began to lose their rigidity and grow slack with fear. His shoulders drooped a little now. He only resembled the man who had come into the house a little earlier.