The Other Side of Midnight

"Do all of your visitors take guides?"

"The Germans and the French are too stingy, but all the Americans do."

Laughter.

"I see. Was there any other reason you remembered Mr. Douglas?"

"You bet there was. I wouldn't have noticed him especially except for the guide thing, and the woman with him seemed kind of embarrassed when he said no. Then about an hour later, I saw him hurry out of the entrance, and he was alone and he seemed awfully upset, and I thought maybe the woman had had an accident or something. I went up to him and asked if the lady was all right and he stared at me kind of funny and said, 'What lady?' and I said, 'The lady you took in the caves with you.' And he turned kind of white and I thought he was going to hit me. Then he started yelling, 'I've lost her. I need help,' and he began carrying on like a crazy man."

"But he didn't call for help until you asked where the missing woman was?"

"That's right."

"What happened next?"

"Well, I organized the other guides and we began a search. Some damned fool had moved the Danger sign from the new section. That's not open to the public. That's where we finally found her about three hours later. She was in pretty bad shape."

"One last question. And answer this very carefully. When Mr. Douglas first came out of the cave, was he looking around for someone to help him, or did you get the impression that he was leaving?"

"He was leaving."

"Your witness."

Napoleon Chotas' voice was very gentle.

"Mr. Cocyannis, are you a psychiatrist?"

"No, sir. I'm a guide."

"And you're not psychic?"

"No, sir."

"I ask this because over the past week, we've had hotel clerks who are experts on human psychology, eyewitnesses who are nearsighted, and now you tell us that you can look at a man who attracted your attention because he seemed agitated, and you can read his mind. How did you know he wasn't looking for help when you went up and spoke to him?"

"He didn't look like it."

"And you can remember his behavior that well?"

"That's right."

"You obviously have a remarkable memory. I want you to look around the courtroom. Have you ever seen anyone in this room before today?"

"The defendant."

"Yes. Aside from him? Take your time."

"No."

"If you had, you would have remembered?"

"Absolutely."

"Have you ever seen me before today?"

"No, sir."

"Would you look at this piece of paper, please. Can you tell me what it is?"