"I wish to know," said Dowker, "if you are aware that your wife called at Lord Calliston's chambers on the night of the murder?"
"Who says so?" asked Balscombe, harshly.
"No one," replied the detective; "but did she?"
"I cannot tell you," said Sir Rupert; and he gave the same account of his movements on the night in question as he had done to Norwood.
"Oh," said Dowker, stroking his chin; "so you were in town after all on that night?"
Sir Rupert looked uncomfortable under the steady gaze of the detective, and blurted out, somewhat confusedly, that he was.
"And you," questioned Dowker, turning to Norwood, "think it was Lady Balscombe that Desmond saw?"
"Yes; because he said he could not get permission to speak except from the lady on board The Seamew, and the lady we know is Sir Rupert's wife."
"But Lady Balscombe did not leave this house till after twelve o'clock, and as the woman saw Mr. Desmond before that time it could not have possibly been Lady Balscombe."
"How do you know my wife did not leave till after twelve?" demanded Balscombe.