"Very well," said Lydia, and was leaving the room when Dowker called her back.
"Could you let me see your mistress's private desk?" he asked.
"What for?" demanded Lydia, rather taken aback.
"Because I want to look over her papers; from them I can gather her past life, and find out if anyone had a motive in killing her."
"Oh!" said Lydia after a pause, "you don't think then that Mr. Desmond is guilty?"
Dowker shrugged his shoulders.
"How can I tell?" he replied; "as far as I can see he had no motive, and one does not commit a murder for sport--but come, show me her desk."
Lydia looked at him doubtfully.
"I don't know if I ought to let you see her private papers."
Dowker laughed in a subdued manner.