“Oho! Am I being put through a third degree?”
“Sort of. But I think I’ve learned all you know. Or, wait, was the beshawled one of Kate Holland’s style? You know to liken one woman to another in appearance doesn’t necessarily accuse her of murder.”
“No, that’s true. Well, the woman I saw could be said to be like Kate Holland or Miss Prall either, in general outline, which is all I could discern of face or figure. But I can’t see what either of those women would be doing prowling about the halls at two A. M.”
“Unless it was in connection with the murder,” Zizi said, straightforwardly. “They all have declared they were in bed and asleep but who’s to witness that?”
“In the very nature of things, nobody,” Vail said. “And now, I’ll be going. I won’t wait for Mr Wise just now, but I’ll see him soon, if he cares to talk to me.”
But just as Vail was leaving, Richard Bates appeared, and Vail tarried to speak with him.
“Any developments?” Vail asked.
“No,” said Bates, despondently. “That is, nothing of importance. I say, Vail, what do you think about the Crippen deal? You know my uncle planned to see him that night regarding a sale of the business, and——”
“Did he see him?” Vail spoke eagerly.
“I don’t know. Crippen’s out of town——”