"That is quite true," murmured Miss Heredith.
"A jealous woman forgets her fears," said the detective rather maliciously. "She didn't stop to think of that when she wanted to use the revolver."
"And where did she get it from?" asked Phil quickly.
Caldew shrugged his shoulders, but remained silent.
"You still persist in thinking that she obtained the revolver from the gun-room?" Phil continued.
"Yes, I do."
"Do you not intend to make any further inquiries? You had better see Nepcote about the revolver. I will give you his address."
"Captain Nepcote left here to go to the front, and we have not heard from him since," Miss Heredith explained to the detective.
In a calmer moment Caldew might have realized the expediency of Phil's suggestion, but his professional dignity was affronted at what he considered the young man's attempt to interfere in the case and direct the course of the police investigations. It was the desire to snub what he regarded as a meddlesome interposition in his own business which prompted him to reply:
"It is a matter of small importance, one way or the other. It is sufficient for the Crown case to know the owner of the revolver. The point is that the murder was committed with it, and it was subsequently found in the girl's possession."