“And aren’t buns bread?”
“That was part of the controversy. However, Sir Herbert and Mr Vail had their bout before the matter was taken up by the Crippen people. Mr Vail didn’t see his way clear to combine his bread with Sir Herbert’s buns. But Mr Crippen thought the buns would go well with his cake business, and they were on the point of coming to an agreement in the matter. Indeed, Sir Herbert told me he expected to see Mr Crippen last evening——”
“He didn’t. I’ve interviewed Mr Crippen and he told me so.”
“Might they not have met after the Magnifique supper?”
“What!” Corson looked at Miss Prall in surprise. “You mean——”
“Oh, nothing,—nothing connected with the—the tragedy, of course. But perhaps the interview did occur, and for some reason Mr Crippen doesn’t want it known—can’t you see, Mr Corson, that it’s a queer thing that nobody comes forward to tell where Sir Herbert was those last two hours of his life? Well, mightn’t he have been with Mr Crippen,—remember, he told me he expected to see him,—and whatever their conference resulted in, might not Mr Crippen have wished it kept quiet——”
“And so, denied it? Why, it might be so, Miss Prall,—but in such a serious case Mr Crippen would hesitate before he would be anything but sincere in his story. It’s a risky matter to falsify when a murder case is being investigated!”
“I know it,” and Miss Prall smoothed the folds of her gown placidly. “But, you see, I know Mr Crippen.”
“Oh, come now, Auntie,” broke in Richard, “just because Crip was an old beau of yours, don’t say things against him.”
“I’m not saying anything against him, Ricky, I only say I know him. If that’s a damaging admission, it’s his fault, not mine.”