"He didn't, Charles. At that precise moment he was out of the room fetching shaving-water."
"Oh, was he?"
"Moreover, only Mrs. Grimethorpe can swear to what is really the important point—the moment of Jerry's arrival and departure. Unless he was at Grider's Hole before 12:30 at least, it's immaterial whether he was there or not."
"Well," said Parker, "can't we keep Mrs. Grimethorpe up our sleeve, so to speak—"
"Sounds a bit abandoned," said Lord Peter, "but we will keep her with pleasure if you like."
"—and meanwhile," pursued Mr. Parker, unheeding, "do our best to find the actual criminal?"
"Oh, yes," said Lord Peter, "and that reminds me. I made a discovery at the Lodge—at least, I think so. Did you notice that somebody had been forcing one of the study windows?"
"No, really?"
"Yes; I found distinct marks. Of course, it was a long time after the murder, but there were scratches on the catch all right—the sort of thing a penknife would leave."
"What fools we were not to make an examination at the time!"