Part 24 (1/2)
”It certainly is a most painful affair,” said Bullen, sympathetically; ”but we are striving our utmost to solve the mystery. Therefore, I trust you will forgive me for seeking this interview. Whatever information you can give us will a.s.sist us very materially in our inquiries.”
”I don't think I can tell you anything more,” declared the distressed woman.
”But what is your theory? Do you believe that the announcement that he was not feeling well was a mere excuse for absence?”
”Ah, that I cannot tell,” she responded. ”The house was locked up at midnight, and it was evident that he was out then, for this morning all the doors were bolted, and the windows were found fastened, just as the servants had left them.”
”Well,” he said, ”that shows that he went out before the house was locked up. Were any of the other guests out in the park?”
”Not to my knowledge,” she replied, after a second's hesitation. ”Of course the men went out upon the drive in front of the house, and walked up and down to smoke after dinner.”
”From your statement it would almost appear as though your husband went out to keep some secret appointment. Have you any suspicion that he had arranged to meet any one?”
”None whatever.”
”And he had never mentioned to you any single person with whom he was at enmity?”
”Never.”
”I presume that most of the guests who were here last night have since left?”
”All have left. I am practically alone.”
”I shall be glad if, as soon as you can do so, you will kindly make me out a list of your guests, together with their addresses. We may not require it, but in this matter we must not overlook a single point.”
”But surely you don't suspect any of them?” she exclaimed quickly.
”We suspect no one, at present,” he responded. ”But in order to prosecute our inquiries satisfactorily, it is necessary to know exactly who was in the house at the time of the tragedy.”
”Oh, of course--of course,” she said. ”I will make out the list and let you have it in the course of an hour--if that will do?”
”Excellent,” the detective said.
Bullen glanced across to a half-open door, which appeared to give entrance to the library, saying--
”If you will permit us, we will examine the Colonel's papers; they may give us some clue. It is just possible that he received a letter making the appointment in the park.”
”You are quite at liberty to act just as you think best,” she answered with perfect frankness.
He thanked her, and then tactfully turned the conversation back to the events of the previous night. It might have been owing to the prejudice which I entertained towards her, but somehow she seemed anxious to avoid any remark regarding the period immediately preceding the tragedy.
Naturally a wife whose husband has been foully a.s.sa.s.sinated in a manner so mysterious, would look back in horror upon past events; but in some strange, indefinite way she seemed to hold our presence in dread.
Bullen, not slow to notice this, continued to ply her with questions in order to obtain further details of how the hours after dinner had been spent.
”Who saw your husband last?” he inquired.
”I don't know for certain. I believe it was one of the guests--a Mr Durrant, with whom he had played billiards.”
”After he had complained to you of not feeling well?”