a "No."

"Why not?"

"I--found a door and escaped."

"You must have heard shooting."

"I heard shots as I ran down the stairs. This morning I read
that--that a man was--" He swallowed down a lump and left the sentence
unfinished.

"Then you know that Clay is accused of killing this man, and that the
police are looking for you because you were with him."

"Yes." His answer was a dry whisper.

"Did you see this man Collins in the room?"

"No. I shouldn't know him if I saw him."

"But you heard shots. You're sure of that!" cried Beatrice.

"Y-yes."

The girl turned triumphantly to her father. "He saw the gun and he
heard shots. That proves self-defense at the worst. They were
shooting at Clay when he struck with the chair--if he did. Clarendon's
testimony will show that."