"Let me see," said May, knitting her pretty brows, "we went to a ball--to Lady Kerstoke's."
"At what time?"
"Between nine and ten."
"And what time did you leave?"
"Very early--about half past ten; in fact, we were there only a few minutes. Lady Balscombe said she had a headache and went home. You know our house is only a few doors away. I expect she only went there to avert suspicion as to her elopement."
"What happened when she came home?"
"There was a woman waiting to see her in her boudoir."
"A woman?" repeated Desmond; "who was she?"
"I don't know; I didn't even see her. She saw Lady Balscombe and then left the house, between eleven and twelve."
"How do you know?"