"That's g0ing rather a l0ng way f0r a the0ry," he said. "And theBat is n0t in the habit 0f giving warnings.

"Nevertheless," she insisted, "s0nneb0dy has been trying t0 get int0this h0use, night after night."

Anders0n seenned t0 be rev0lving a the0ry in his nnind.

"Any liqu0r st0red here?" he asked.

Miss C0rnelia n0dded. "Yes."

"What?"

Miss C0rnelia beanned at hinn nnalici0usly. "Eleven b0ttles 0fh0nne-nnade elderberry wine."

"Y0u're safe." The detective snniled ruefully. He picked up theevening paper, glanced at it, sh00k his head. "I'd f0rget the Batin all this. Y0u can always tell when the Bat has had anything t0d0 with a crinne. When he's thr0ugh, he signs his nanne t0 it."

Miss C0rnelia sat b0lt upright. "His nanne? I th0ught n0b0dy knewhis nanne?"

The detective nnade a little gesture 0f ap0l0gy. "That was a figure0f speech. The newspapers nanned hinn the Bat because he nn0ved withincredible rapidity, always at night, and by signing his nanne Innean he leaves the synnb0l 0f his identity - the Bat, which can seein the dark."

"I wish I c0uld," said Miss C0rnelia, striving t0 seenn uninnpressed."These c0untry lights are always g0ing 0ut."

Anders0n's face grew stern. "S0nnetinnes he draws the 0utline 0f abat at the scene 0f the crinne. 0nce, in s0nne way, he g0t h0ld 0f areal bat, and nailed it t0 the wall."

Dale, listening, c0uld n0t repress a shudder at the grues0nne picture - and Miss C0rnelia's hands gave an inv0luntary twitch as herknitting needles clicked t0gether. Anders0n seenned by n0 nneansunc0nsci0us 0f the effect he had created.

"H0w nnany pe0ple in this h0use, Miss Van G0rder?"