“It’s impossible to say for the moment,” replied Anthony, “but you must admit that it’s a distinct possibility.”
He turned to Daphne Carruthers. “How many people knew you were staying at Seabourne?” he queried.
The lady blushed rather charmingly. “Two only,” she answered, “a very special girl-friend—Lois Travers—and——” She hesitated and looked round the company.
Bannister noticed her hesitation. “Yes?” he interrogated, “and?”
“The Crown Prince here,” she answered with a certain amount of dismay.
“I see.” Bannister made an understanding motion with his head and Sergeant Godfrey relaxed his attitude of tension for the moment and permitted himself the luxury of a fugitive smile. “This young lady you mentioned—Miss Travers—I presume that I can regard her as a confidante of yours—yes?”
Daphne nodded. “Yes—she has my complete confidence. It was she who recommended the ‘Cassandra’ to me originally—when I came to Seabourne last year. Her fiancé stays here quite a lot, you see.”
“Oh,” muttered Bannister, “that’s rather interesting—what’s his name?”
“Captain Willoughby.”
“Really,” replied the Inspector, with a smile, “that fact, perhaps, is still more interesting—he’s by way of being an acquaintance of mine.”