“And Mrs. Faulkner?”
“She deferred to Mrs. Stannard’s wishes. But she had no faith in her. Of course, after Orienta read the sealed letters, Mrs. Faulkner had to believe in that, she couldn’t well help it.”
“No. Now, Miss Vernon, when you heard the groan or sigh as if the spirit of Mr. Stannard were expressing itself, where did the sound come from?”
“It seemed to come from that chair,—the chair he died in. Joyce and I sat facing it——”
“Your backs to the hall door, then?”
“Yes, but nobody could open that door, it was locked. Mrs. Stannard unlocked it when she ran out of the room.”
“You’re sure of this?”
“Positive. We’ve gone over the scene a dozen times or more.”
“That seems to let Blake out, doesn’t it? Well, that’s all for the present, Miss Vernon, and thank you for your courteous attention. Now, there’s no one to interview but the servants.”
“Mrs. Faulkner? She expects you to talk to her, I think.”