“And then?”
“And then”—Cicely again hesitated, but with a visible effort resumed her speech—“why, and then I came on down, and found Mr. Carleton nearly distracted. I could not guess what was the matter. He was turning on the lights and ringing the servants’ bells and acting like a man beside himself. Then in a moment Marie appeared, and gave one of her French shrieks that completely upset what little nerve I had left.”
“And what did you do next?”
“I—I went into the library.”
“Why?”
Cicely looked up suddenly, as if startled, but after only an instant’s hesitation replied:
“Because Mr. Carleton pointed toward the doorway, and Marie and I went in together.”
“You knew at once that Miss Van Norman was not alive?”
“I was not sure, but Marie went toward her, and then turned away with another of her horrid screams, and I felt that Miss Van Norman must be dead.”
“What did Mr. Carleton say?”