“But didn’t he?” and Estelle looked up with hope dawning in her eyes.
“I think not. Now there’s no time to waste. Tell me what I ask or you will lose your chance to do so. You opened the living-room window for Bates to come in, at about three o’clock?”
“Yes,” admitted the girl.
“And went down and closed and fastened it at——”
“Five o’clock,” came in lowest tones.
“Not knowing that Miss Carrington was dead?”
“Oh, No!”
“For Bates went there only to steal the jewels?”
“Yes.”
“And so, when you took the breakfast tray, and found the lady—as you did find her—you were frightened out of your wits, and dropped the tray?”