"There may have been other people present," suggested Marshall, "who left before the confusion was over. There are any number of people in this world who like to avoid being involved in things like this."
"I can certainly appreciate their position," said Miss English, reminiscently touching her fingertips to her head.
"Miss English was very brave," Featherhall told the policemen. "She created the diversion that spoiled their plans."
"Yes, we know," said Marshall. "We've heard about what you did, Miss English."
"To tell you the truth," she said primly, "I was most concerned about the boy. To be exposed to something like that at his tender—"
"Boy?" interrupted Stevenson rudely. "Did you say boy?"
"Why, yes," said Miss English. "There was a little boy in here at the time, with his mother. Didn't you know?"
"No, we didn't," said Marshall. "Could you describe this boy?"
"Well, he was—well, not more than ten years old, if that. And he—well, it has been a long time, as Mr. Featherhall said. He was just a child, a normal average child."
"Not exactly average," said Stevenson cryptically.