“Why to those three?”
“Because I knew they were there. They were the only three whom I had seen go up. Bathurst and Jack Considine were in the garden.”
Baddeley nodded in acquiescence, and accepted the explanation.
“Did the three people answer you?” suddenly queried Anthony.
“Lord, what a memory I’m expected to have,” groaned Barker. “Let me think.” He passed his fingers through his hair. “I can only recall that Major Hornby answered, with any certainty. But that may perhaps be because I know his voice best. I can’t answer for the others.”
“What do you say, Bill?” continued Anthony.
For the life of me I wondered what he could see in a point of detail like this. I hesitated.
“Did you hear him, Bill? Did you answer him? Is his memory correct? These little things count so much in a case of this kind. What do you say?”
I thought very carefully. Had I any accurate remembrance of what Barker said he had done? Yes! I had!
“Yes,” I replied. “I heard Lieutenant Barker go by along the corridor, and I answered him. Perhaps he failed to hear me.”