“Oh, but there is one,” Mrs. Carnthwacke affirmed positively. “A big heavy screen, stamped leather it looked like. It was opened out, and stood right in front of the window nearest the desk. I remember wondering he should have it there. It blocked out so much of the light.”
“What a very curious thing!” The rector interjected. “Often as I have been in to see my lamented brother-in-law, I have seen no screen. Nor have I found him with drawn blinds.”
“It was not Mr. Bechcombe who was so found by Mrs. Carnthwacke,” John Steadman corrected. “Of course the semi-darkness of the room was purposely contrived for one of two reasons, either that the murderer should not be recognized or that his disguise should not be suspected.”
“Your two reasons seem to me to mean the same thing, my dear sir,” Carnthwacke drawled. “But there, if that is all——”
“They do not mean the same thing at all,” John Steadman retorted. “Anybody might suspect a person of being disguised. But only some one who was personally acquainted with the murderer could recognize him. Now what we have to discover is which of these reasons was operating in this case. Or whether, as is possible, we have to reckon with both.”
Cyril B. Carnthwacke's sleepy-looking eyes were opened sharply for once.
“I don't understand you,” he drawled. “But I can put you wise on one of your points. Mrs. Carnthwacke ain't acquainted with any murderers. So she could not have recognized the man.”
The barrister did not appear to be impressed.
“Nobody is aware that he is acquainted with murderers until the murderer is found out,” he remarked with a certain air of stubbornness. “Besides, it might not have been from Mrs. Carnthwacke that this murderer had to fear recognition. He may have been known by sight to lots of people who might possibly have encountered him on his way to and from the room. All the clerks for example, the messengers, office boys, tenants of the neighbouring offices. Other people might have come to Mr. Bechcombe's private room too. Mrs. Carnthwacke may not have been the only expected client. But one thing is certain: this new evidence of Mrs. Carnthwacke's does throw a good deal of light on the much vexed question of the time at which the murder took place.”
“As how?” Carnthwacke's voice did not sound as though he would be easily placated.