“Do you mind?”
Leon’s voice was urgent as he signalled Washington to move yet farther to the left, and when the big man moved his chair, Leon nodded his thanks. His eyes were on the window and the darkening lawn. Not once did he remove his gaze.
“It’s an extraordinary thing about Poole, my lawyer,” Mr. Lee was saying. “He promised faithfully he’d be at Rath by seven o’clock. What is the time?”
Meadows looked at his watch.
“Half-past eight,” he said. He saw the cloud that came over the face of the blind owner of Rath Hall.
“It is extraordinary! I wonder if you would mind——”
His foot touched a bell beneath the table and his butler came in.
“Will you telephone to Mr. Poole’s house and ask if he has left?”
The butler returned in a short time.
“Yes, sir, Mr. Poole left the house by car at half-past six.”