Zizi flashed her best smile as she returned, “Practically. I’m only assistant, but what is told to me goes to him just as I get it.”
“Accurate and careful, eh? Well, my information is regarding a woman I saw skulking in the halls the night of the murder. You see, it chanced that I came into the house and up in the elevator just before the tragedy occurred. I stood a few minutes at my door, before leaving the car, because Bob Moore and I were discussing the book he was reading. He’s a good sort, and often when I come in late I give him a jolly to help along his weary watch hours.”
“All right,” chirped Zizi, “what followed?”
“Only that as we came up I heard some one on the stairs. They surround the elevator, you know, and though indistinct, I know I heard a tread on the stairs as we were at or near the eighth floor. But we came on up and then, as I say, we stood a bit talking. Then Moore went down again, and I, feeling curious about the footsteps on the stairs, went around to the staircase and looked down.”
“How far could you see?”
“Not far, because the stairs wind around the elevator well. But I went down farther and I caught sight of a woman with a shawl over her head——”
“What kind of a shawl?”
“Lord, I don’t know! Grayish and softish, it looked, but the night lights are dim and I only caught a glimpse of this hooded figure moving stealthily along the hall. That’s all, and if it’s of any importance——”
“It doesn’t seem to me to be of much,—what do you think?”
Vail stared at her. He was not accustomed to have his suggestions so lightly received. But he only shrugged his shoulders, and said: