“Did you use ’er before that, sir—this side of midnight?”
In an electric silence Derry shook his head.
“Not after midnight,” he said. “I drove to Carlton House Terrace about eleven and home about half-past two, but that was all.”
The constable raised his eyebrows.
“Then I’m afraid she was bein’ used, sir, without your authority. An’ as this is rather important, I’d like a word with your chauffeur—if you’ve no objection.”
There was another silence.
Violently red in the face, Captain Chase sat like a graven image, wide-eyed but sightless. One slight hand to her mouth, Rosemary, still as death, stared upon the floor.
Realizing that something must be done, and done quickly, Virginia took a deep breath.
“You say ‘before midnight’?” she said barefacedly.
“After midnight, madam,” corrected P.C. Bloke.