"No, sir! I even held on to the knob outside, and I'd got such a scare I didn't move. And then he called, not very loud, so I could hear him through the transom; 'e said, `What's the idea of this?' That's what 'e said. And then started to get mad and said, `Better open that door, if you don't want me to smash it and rouse the 'ouse, and then where'll you be?' And I couldn't think of anything to say, except I said, `You'd better not,' I said, `because if you do you'll look an awful silly ass, sir, won't you?"'
Beryl swallowed hard. She stared from one to the other of them.
"It was all I could think of to say!" she cried defensively. "And, anyway, it usually stops the gentlemen."
"Quite," said Masters, with noncommittal heaviness. "Well?"
"Then I didn't know what to do, sir, because I was afraid to unlock it, and I didn't want to stay there in the gallery for fear the master might come along like 'e does. So I backed away and stood at the end of the gallery. And he didn't say anything, or make any more noise at all, till 'e tried to climb out through the transom."
"Through the transom," repeated Masters. "What was he wearing then?"
"Wearing? I won't stand," cried Beryl, "for them hints! I won't! I'd rather get the s-sack. 'E was dressed! 'E was in shirt-sleeves. But I knew he couldn't get out by the transom, because it opens the other way; and all he did was get himself mucky on the shoulders a-trying to squeeze through. So he stopped. And I heard 'im say, `You're still there, I'll bet. Never mind. I'm a-going to get drunk.' And he laughed a little. And I was so frightened at the way he said that. sir, I ran on upstairs, and that's the truth so help me, and I didn't let 'im out till morning."
Masters lowered his head.
"Sunk," he said. "Second explanation shot to blazes. And Sir Henry knew it would be, somehow. So that's what the chap meant by saying he had an alibi!" He turned fiercely to Beryl. "Well? What about this morning?"
"Why, I opened the door. And in the meantime there was this awful talk about murder. So I thought, `Aaoow! If 'e tries to say anything to me, and 'e's mad, I'll stop him by telling him first off Miss Tait's gone, poor lady" For a moment Beryl's tears nearly overflowed again. "And it w — worked. So help me, I thought it'd kill 'im. And right away he grabbed my arm and said, `Bohun did it, didn't he? Where's Bohun now?' And I said, `The Master?' And 'e said you know, a word I won't say-'No! the other one.' And I said I didn't know what could 'ave 'append to Mr. John, because his bed wasn't slept in but his things was scattered about; and I told him what I'd 'eard downstairs. Then he wanted me to tell them, in case there was trouble for 'im, about being locked in the room. And I said I would, just to get away from him then. But now Stella's saying the Master says 'e did do it, and I was trying to tell this gentleman. "