“What time was that?”
“About six o’clock this evening, I think.”
“And where has the nurse gone?”
“The nurse has gone to a concert at Queen’s Hall, and will sleep at the house of some friends at Islington.”
“And does your sister imagine you to be in bed?”
“I expect so,” said Pauline.
They slowly returned to the neighbourhood of the bungalows. Carpentaria wanted to hurry, but it seemed as though Pauline was being held back by some occult force. As a matter of fact, she dreaded the moment when she should re-enter the house. But at length, they stood once again by the doorstep of Josephus Ilam.
“What am I to do?” Pauline demanded sadly. “What do you think will be the best thing to do?”
“We have not seen your sister in the gardens,” said Carpentaria. “She has most probably returned. She would not be likely to leave Mrs. Ilam for very long, would she? Go and see if she has returned, if she is in Mrs. Ham’s room. And if she is, question her.”
“But how? What am I to say? Am I to ask her if she has been out?”