“Most of the time. He came in later than I, and then went out for a walk when the storm cleared away. I did not see him again until this morning. Thalassa came for me with the news of my brother’s death, and I did not get back from Flint House until very late.”
“I suppose you are aware your sister does not share your view that your brother committed suicide?”
“I understand she has some absurd suspicion about Thalassa, my brother’s servant.”
“Why do you call her suspicion absurd?” asked Barrant cautiously.
“It is more than absurd,” replied Austin warmly. “I am ashamed to think that my sister should have given utterance to such a dreadful thought against a faithful old servant who has been with Robert for half a lifetime, and was devoted to him.”
“Mrs. Pendleton saw him looking through the door.”
“She only thought so. She went to the door immediately to find out who it was, but there was nobody there.”
“Do you think she imagined it?”
“No; I think somebody was there, but it is by no means certain that it was Thalassa. It might have been Thalassa’s wife. It might even have been Robert’s daughter.”
“Was not Miss Turold present at the family gathering?”