"It might be. But I do not know anything about the chase. If I had known that Layton was in the garden, I should not have left her."
"Where did you find Mr. Copplestone?"
"On the lawns."
"How long after you parted from her?"
"Only a few minutes. Four or five."
"Was he alone?"
"Yes. He was looking for Miss Manderson himself. He went into the house at once."
Silence followed while the inspector added to his notes.
"Mr. Tranter," he said quietly—and his eyes rested for a moment on the cigarette on the table, "I have only one suggestion to make. You will understand that it is only a suggestion, but I want to be perfectly clear. Considering that this was the evening of Miss Manderson's engagement to Mr. Copplestone, might she not have been expected to have strolled away from the house, and to have spent that following half-hour, with him rather than with you?"
Tranter hesitated.