“What brought her down? Did she know what had happened?”
Simmons seemed honestly confused. “I really can’t tell you, sir. I suppose one of the servants must have gone upstairs and told her. They were all about.”
Tarleton nodded. “Go on. When she came in what did she do?”
“She was rather angry sir, at first. She thought the doctor had come home in a great hurry to fetch something for someone who was ill, and had rushed off again, and forgotten to lock the safe and take his keys. She said we had no business to look inside in his absence. And she locked the safe herself, and sent the policeman away, saying no doubt Dr. Weathered would be back again presently. But that was more than four hours ago, and there’s been no sign of him yet, sir.”
It was evident that Simmons considered his young mistress had been over-confident. We, who knew it so much better than he did could only sympathize with his feelings. Sir Frank made no further effort to detain him.
“Very well. You can let Mrs. Weathered know we are here, and say that I shall be glad to speak with her as soon as possible.”
When the butler had gone he turned to me.
“What do you make of this room, Cassilis? What sort of diseases do you think were treated here?”
I thought it best to glance at the pictures and the marble group before expressing my opinion.
“Not very serious ones I should say,” I answered lightly.