"Standing still."
"You have said that you did not hear any one moving about near you while you were speaking to her?"
"No."
"Were there trees or hedges about, where some one might have hidden to overhear you?"
"There was a hedge," Tranter replied. "But I did not notice the spot particularly."
"You will be able to point it out to me to-morrow."
"I think so. As I say, I did not particularly notice it—and the possibility of being overheard certainly did not occur to me. I am afraid at that moment caution was hardly a consideration with either of us."
The inspector closed his note-book.
"Unless circumstances compel me to do otherwise," he promised, "I will keep your story to myself. Will you tell me whether the announcement of Mr. Copplestone's engagement to Miss Manderson produced a noticeable effect on any particular person in the room? Please do not hesitate to answer."
"It certainly appeared to be unwelcome news to Mrs. Astley-Rolfe," Tranter replied, "but she very quickly recovered herself."