“She told me what I’ve just told you. I couldn’t invent the name, could I?” he demanded churlishly.
“Did you attempt to verify her statement in any way? It would have been quite simple to do so, surely—up to a point?”
“I ascertained that it was perfectly true that the Crown Prince had attended the Ball that night—if that’s what you mean? I was quite satisfied, more than satisfied.”
“Have you ever seen a photograph of the Crown Prince?”
“Never—I’m not interested enough.”
“You say that you saw him introduced to Miss Delaney by Major Carruthers?”
“I did!”
“Could you recognise him again if you saw him?”
“I couldn’t swear to that. I might if I saw him in evening-dress. But he was some distance down the ballroom when the introduction took place and at other times I only saw his back—I tell you I wasn’t interested in the man—curse him!”
Mr. Bathurst leant across the table. “I should like to ask you something, Mr. Warburton.”