"I will not," I rejoined, putting down the hat I had caught up.
The next minute she, as well as myself, perceived why she had been thus peremptorily called back.
The group around the newel-post had changed. A large, elderly man, with a world of experience in his time-worn but kindly visage, was standing in the place occupied by the coroner a moment before. He was bowing in the direction of Miss Meredith, and he held some half-dozen letters in his hand.
As her eyes fell on these letters he regarded her with an encouraging smile, and said:
"I am Detective Gryce, miss. I ask pardon for disturbing you, and I don't want you to lay too much stress upon my presence here or upon the few questions I have to put on behalf of the coroner who has just been called to the telephone. A few explanations are all I want, and some of these you are in a position to give me. You have been in the habit of using the typewriter for your uncle, I am told."
"Yes, sir."
"Did you use it for the writing of these five letters found upon his desk?"
"Yes, sir."
"To-night?"
"Yes, sir."