"He was not at home, ma'am. Mr. Stimcoe had given us a holiday in honour of the prisoners."
"I see. So Captain Branscome was off on an outing? When did he return?"
"I didn't see him that evening, ma'am."
"That's not an answer to my question. I asked, When did he return?"
"Not until yesterday afternoon."
I had to think before giving this answer, so long a stretch of time seemed to lie between me and yesterday afternoon.
"Where had he been spending his holiday meanwhile?"
"He didn't tell me, ma'am."
"At all events, he didn't turn up for school next day, nor the next again, until the afternoon. Queer sort of academy, Stimcoe's. Did Mr. Stimcoe make any remark on his under-teacher's absence?"
"No, ma'am."