"You had better ask him," she retorted. "I do not know."
"Mr. Bolsover, the theatrical manager, told me that he found James Layton lurking by the house, and called to Mr. Copplestone before following him. Mr. Copplestone stated that the reason he did not hear that call was that he had gone into the house to refill his cigarette-case, and did not come out again until just before Mr. Tranter found him after leaving Miss Manderson. That statement was false."
"How do you know?" she asked quickly.
"He did not go into the house to refill his cigarette-case. He had had no opportunity to smoke afterwards, and when I questioned him his case was almost empty. He may have gone in for another reason——or he may not have gone in at all."
"Is it not very trivial?" she said.
"If you had been dealing with crimes and criminals as long as I have," the inspector returned, "you would know that nothing is trivial. At present, Mr. Copplestone's time while the crime was being committed is unaccounted for—and he is detected in a lie. It is not a pleasant position to be in."
She was silent. Her hands moved nervously.
"What is the use of telling me this?" she asked.
"It occurred to me," he replied, "that you might be able to extricate him from that position."
"Why?" she demanded resentfully.