Time was getting on, and Shawe had learnt nothing definite as yet, so he lost no further time, but plunged into the middle of his reason for calling.
"I wish to know if you saw anything when you stayed at the Pink Shop likely to lead you to suspect who is the assassin of Lady Branwin?"
"There," said Miss Pearl, colouring again, "I knew some day that I would be asked that question again."
"Were you asked it before?"
"Yes. Inspector Lanton asked me. He learnt from Madame Coralie that I slept in the upstairs room, and questioned me. Of course, I knew nothing, as I was asleep all the time, and I told him so. I also asked him to keep my name out of the papers, as such publicity would not have been good for me. And now," added Miss Pearl, emphatically, "it would do me positive harm seeing that Sir Joseph wants to marry me. People would say nasty things."
"For instance, that you wished Lady Branwin to die?"
"I daresay," said Miss Pearl, in quite a savage tone for so serene a goddess. "But let them, that's all. I have always my solicitors to look after my reputation. Do you think that?" she asked suddenly.
"No," said Ralph, frankly. "I might have entertained some such suspicion, but after seeing you I do not suspect you in the least. Still"--he paused--"you may know of something."
"Know what, for instance?" asked Miss Pearl, sharply.
Ralph evaded an answer, and asked another question. "Did you wear a Harris tweed dress when you were at the Pink Shop?"