"But last night Mr. de Mountford was alone?"
"Yes, sir. He had some dinner at about half past seven and then he went to the smoking room."
"Later on a gentleman called to see him?"
"That's right, sir. It was about a quarter past eight. The gentleman asked to see Lord Radclyffe, but I said that 'is lordship 'adn't come to the club this night. Then the gentleman asked if Mr. de Mountford was in, and I said yes."
"And you showed him into the smoking room?"
"I told 'im he would find Mr. de Mountford in the smoking room; yes, sir."
"Isn't that rather against club rules to allow strangers to walk in and out of the rooms?"
"Well, sir, the Veterans' is a new club—and the committee ain't very partik'lar."
"I see."
So far the questions and answers had followed on one another in quick succession. Sir Thomas Ryder, with his clever lean head held somewhat on one side, appeared to be reciting a well-learned lesson, so even and placid was the tone of his voice and so indifferent the expression of his furrowed face. One leg was crossed over the other and his tapering hands, white and wrinkled like his face, toyed with a large ivory paper knife hardly whiter in colour than they.