“Mightn’t it be somewhere else?” asked the Inspector. “Are these things always kept in precisely the same spot?”
“Always, Inspector,” replied Morgan Llewellyn promptly. “Mr. Stewart was most particular about that.”
“Isn’t it possible that Mr. Stewart himself may have removed it—on the eve of his intended purchases—for comparison or something?” suggested Daventry.
“No,” said Llewellyn. “I think not. I’m certain Mr. Stewart would have told me if he had done so.”
“Goodall,” said Anthony, with a suspicion of the didactic in his manner, “I can now assure you of at least one thing! Mason, the night-watchman, was murdered for possession of the other Stuart screen!”
“And my father——” broke in Charles Stewart with emotion.
“I am not sure,” replied Anthony with his hand on Stewart’s shoulder, “yet! Time is precious,” he continued, “we’re moving at last. Who can give me a more detailed description of this screen that was kept here—I am anxious to know more about it? Can you, Mr. Llewellyn?”
Llewellyn hesitated. But Peter was unable to decide what it was that was passing through his mind. He seemed to be considering something, but nevertheless gave no apparent hint of embarrassment or agitation. Then his answer came, but it was not quite in the form that Peter had anticipated.
“I’m afraid I can’t help you, Mr. Bathurst. I certainly remember the screen, as I said just now. It was of some kind of beaten metal-work and about the size stated in the catalogue. When I compiled the catalogue I had some notes of Mr. Stewart’s to assist me in my classification—I remember I used his own description wherever possible, when it came to making up my own list. There were some objects in the collection that I was forced to raise certain questions about through lack of information in the notes, but this screen wasn’t one of those. Mr. Stewart himself, I may add, approved the description in the catalogue in every instance.”
Anthony had followed him very carefully as he furnished this explanation. “Did Mr. Stewart mention the matter of this screen to you in connection with his projected purchase of the other one?”