`Listen,' he said. His voice was thick. 'He cleared it with an effort. `I understand all your implications, of course. And you know how much I thought of Phil. But so far as Mr Lester Bitton's concerned I feel the way she does. And I'll tell you you're a lot of damned fools. I know him pretty well. Sheila didn't tell you he was the one who stood up for our marriage when the old man was against it.
`He's not likeable on the surface, as General Mason is. Bitton's cold and efficient when you just look at him. He's not clever, or a good talker. But he's.. you're… a… lot… of… fools,' Dalrye said, suddenly, miserable.
Hadley drummed his fingers on his brief-case.
`Tell us the truth, Mr Dalrye,' he said, after a time. 'We've pretty well found out that there was an affair between Mrs Bitton and Driscoll. Did you know about it?'
`I give you my word,' said Dalrye, simply, `I didn't. Believe me or not. I only got wind of it… well, afterwards. Phil wouldn't have been such a fool as to tell me. I'd have covered him, I suppose, because… oh, well, you can see. But I'd have stopped it, somehow.'
`And do you suppose Sir William knew of it?'
`O Lord, no! He's the last person who would. He's too tied up with his books and his lectures about how the government is running on senile decay…. But, for God's sake, find out who killed Phil!'
`We are going to begin,' Dr Fell' said, quietly, `in precisely two minutes. I mean, we are going to dispose of the nonsense, and then see our way straight to the sense.' Mr Dalrye, will you step outside and ask that valet chap, Marks, to step in here?'
Dalrye hesitated, running a hand through his hair; but at the doctor's imperious gesture he hurried out.
`Now!' urged Dr Fell, hammering his stick on the floor. `Set that table over in front of me. That's it, my boy, hurry!' He struggled up as Rampole lifted the heavy table and set it down with a thump before him. `Now, Hadley, give me your brief-case…. '