“But Mr. Illsley saw you coming down.”
“Only those few steps. He couldn’t have seen me coming from the top of the stair, for I didn’t go up so far.”
“You spoke of being jealous of Miss Stuart. Why?”
“Because Count Charlier is in love with her.”
“With Miss Stuart?”
“Yes; he was making up to Miss Carrington for her money, but he is really in love with Miss Stuart.”
Mrs. Frothingham shook her head doggedly, as if determined to tell this, even though it should redound to the Count’s discredit. And it did.
“Then,” said Fleming Stone, “that adds motive to the theory of the Count’s guilt. If he is in love with Miss Stuart, might he not have been tempted to put Miss Carrington out of the way, that Miss Stuart should inherit the fortune, and be the bride of his choice?”
“Indeed, yes, that is a possibility,” and Fleming Stone saw at last, that this woman either suspected the Count’s guilt or wished to make it appear so.
Again, the sudden thought struck him, suppose she was so jealous of the Count’s attentions to Miss Carrington, that she went to Garden Steps with the intent of killing the lady. Suppose she did go upstairs, although she denied it, and put the poison in the sandwich. Surely, she had opportunity. Surely, she would now deny it.