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Page 81
"Hm," muttered Harley. "You have not attended Madame de St�mer before,
doctor?"
"No," was the reply, "this is the first time I have entered Cray's
Folly since it was occupied by Sir James Appleton."
He was about to take his departure when the door opened and Inspector
Aylesbury walked in.
"Ah," said he, "I have two more witnesses to interview: Madame de
St�mer and Miss Beverley. From these witnesses I hope to get
particulars of the dead man's life which may throw some light upon the
identity of his murderer."
"It is impossible to see either of them at present," replied Dr.
Rolleston briskly.
"What's that, doctor?" asked the Inspector. "Are they hysterical, or
something?"
"As a result of the shock, Madame de St�mer is dangerously ill,"
replied the physician, "and Miss Beverley is remaining with her."
"Oh, I see. But Miss Beverley could come out for a few minutes?"
"She could," admitted the physician, sharply, "but I don't wish her to
do so."
"Oh, but the law must be served, doctor."
"Quite so, but not at the expense of my patient's reason."
He was a resolute man, this country practitioner, and I saw Harley
smiling in grim approval.
"I have expressed my opinion," he said, finally, walking out of the
room; "I shall leave the responsibility to you, Inspector Aylesbury.
Good morning, gentlemen."
Inspector Aylesbury scratched his chin.
"That's awkward," he muttered. "The evidence of this woman is highly
important."
He turned toward us, doubtingly, whereupon Harley stood up, yawning.
"If I can be of any further assistance to you, Inspector," said my
friend, "command me. Otherwise, I feel sure you will appreciate the
fact that both Mr. Knox and myself are extremely tired, and have passed
through a very trying ordeal."
"Yes," replied Inspector Aylesbury, "that's all very well, but I find
myself at a deadlock."
"You surprise me," declared Harley.
"I can see nothing to be surprised about," cried the Inspector. "When I
was called in it was already too late."
"Most unfortunate," murmured Harley, disagreeably. "Come along, Knox,
you look tired to death."
"One moment, gentlemen," the Inspector insisted, as I stood up. "One
moment. There is a little point which you may be able to clear up."
Harley paused, his hand on the door knob, and turned.
"The point is this," continued the Inspector, frowning portentously and
lowering his chin so that it almost disappeared into the folds of his
neck, "I have now interviewed all the inmates of Cray's Folly except
the ladies. It appears to me that four people had not gone to bed.
There are you two gentlemen, who have explained why I found you in
evening dress, Colonel Menendez, who can never explain, and there is
one other."
He paused, looking from Harley to myself.
It had come, the question which I had dreaded, the question which I had
been asking myself ever since I had seen Val Beverley kneeling in the
corridor, dressed as she had been when we had parted for the night.
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