“That’s not evidence!” Wise fairly thundered; “answer my question.”
“Well, then, I’ve no eye-witness proof of her crime, but I do know that her daughter was out in the hall, keeping watch——”
“Keeping watch over what—or whom?”
“Keeping watch to see that the way was clear; that her mother might return unseen from the ground floor to her own apartment by way of the stairs.”
“You mean you think Mrs Everett walked up seven flights of stairs after the deed?”
“I couldn’t do it,” admitted plump Mrs Everett, drawing deep breaths at the mere thought of such a thing.
“Nonsense!” retorted Miss Prall. “There’s only six flights, and they’re easy steps. But, if not for that, what was Dorcas out in the hall for, all dressed, at that time of night?”
“She wasn’t, so far as I know,” replied the mother.
“It all hinges on that,” declared Wise, with as much earnestness as if he believed himself what he was saying.
As a matter of fact he was striving, so far in vain, to gather some hint, some side light as to which way to look for the criminal, for he did not really think either of these women guilty, in deed or intent.