“I’m sorry, sir, but I believe her ladyship is out. I will inquire if you wish.”
He seemed to be hesitating whether to ask us inside. Sir Frank seized on the opening.
“I shall be glad if you will find out when she is likely to be in. Her ladyship is staying in the Castle, I suppose?”
“Oh, yes, sir.” The answer was given readily.
“We have come down from London on purpose to see her. They told us at Grosvenor Place that her ladyship had come here—I think it was on Wednesday.”
The man bowed. “That is quite right, sir. Her ladyship arrived on Wednesday evening.”
I stole an anxious glance at my chief. It was a complete confirmation of the Inspector’s report. If Lady Violet had arrived at the Castle in the evening, she could not have been back in town the same night. The alibi stood firm.
Tarleton drew out his watch as though to consult it before deciding what to do next. Suddenly he snapped out, “There is no mistake, I suppose? Her ladyship couldn’t have been in London on Wednesday night?”
The man was taken off his guard, and if he had been lying he could hardly have failed to show some confusion. But the only feeling he manifested was one of resentment at the question.
“I’m positive of what I say, sir. But her ladyship hasn’t authorized me to answer questions about her movements.”