Light enough came through the cracks in the closed shutters to reveal to her the rooms that the old doctor had so long occupied.
’Phemie closed the skeleton case and picked up her candle. Then she continued her investigation of the suite to the third room. Here were shelves and work-benches littered with a heterogeneous collection of bottles, tubes, retorts, filters, and other things of which ’Phemie did not even know the names or uses.
There was a door, too, that opened directly into the back yard. But this door was locked and double-bolted. She was sure that the person, or persons, whom she had heard talking the night before had not been in this room. When she withdrew from the east wing she locked the green-painted door as she had found it; but in addition, she removed the key and hid it where she was sure nobody but herself would be likely to find it.
Later she tackled Lucas.
“I don’t suppose you–or any of your folks–were up here last night, Lucas?” she asked the young farmer, out of her sister’s hearing.
“Me, Miss? I should say not!” replied the surprised Lucas.
“But I heard voices around the house.”
“Do tell!” exclaimed he.
“Who would be likely to come here at night?”
“Why, I never heard the beat o’ that,” declared Lucas. “No, ma’am!”