"She should have taken that path," Copplestone said, turning to one in another direction. "That is the way to the house."
"Did she know the garden well?" asked the inspector.
"Perfectly well."
"Still, she might easily have taken a wrong turning in the darkness."
"She might. But it is about the straightest path in the garden. I don't think she would have made a mistake."
Slowly and carefully Inspector Fay followed the path to the house, under the guidance of Copplestone. Every yard of the way was examined, but yielded nothing. The inspector's face became darker and darker. He stopped when they turned a corner and found themselves at the house.
"She could not possibly have got so far as this before the attack was made," he said discontentedly.
"Impossible," agreed the manager. "If the murderer had killed her here, he would have left her here. He would not have taken the risk of dragging her all the way to the river."
"It seems a curious thing," the clergyman remarked, "that apparently she did not utter any cry for help."
"Ah!" said Monsieur Dupont quietly.