"I am afraid I cannot make any statement at present," he replied. "Our investigations are proceeding as quickly as possible. I hope we shall clear it up in a few days."
"I hope you will," she declared fervently. "Such a brutal criminal can expect no mercy."
"In the meantime," continued the inspector, "I should be much obliged if you would kindly give me a little information."
"Certainly," she said readily. "Sit down."
He sat down, facing her. She made a charming picture. But Inspector Fay had been taken in by charming women several times during the early part of his career, and at this stage of it was as impervious as an oyster.
"Please understand," he began, "that in asking these questions I am making no insinuations or suggestions of any kind. It is necessary to establish certain facts."
"I quite understand," she assured him. "What do you want to know?"
"I want to know what you were saying to Mr. Copplestone in the garden, before Mr. Tranter came to tell him that Miss Manderson had gone into the house."
She started.
"I?" she exclaimed. "I was not with Mr. Copplestone."