“When was that?” asked the detective, sharply.
“I should say about ten o’clock.”
“Where were you, then?”
“Sitting in the window nook outside the study door.”
“Could you not, then, hear anything that went on in the study?”
“Probably not. The walls and door are thick—they were made so for the doctor’s sake—he desired absolute privacy, and freedom from interruption or overhearing. No, I could not know what was taking place in that room—if anything was, at that time.”
“At what time did you last see the doctor?”
“After supper I went with him to the study. I looked after his wants, getting him a number of books from the shelves, and selecting from his files such notes or manuscript as he asked for. Those are my duties as secretary.”
“And then?”
“Then he practically dismissed me, saying I might leave for the night. But I remained in the hall window until eleven o’clock.”