"So I believe," said Durham, dryly; "but tell me, Miss Randolph, did he leave you at all during the play?"
"Not till the last act," said Lucy. "Then he went to get something to drink, and returned before the end of the play to take us away."
"How long was he absent?"
"Nearly half an hour. He said he had met a friend and had been talking to him."
"Ah! Very clever of him. Well," said Durham, looking round, "I have something to tell you all. We are friends of Bernard's, are we not?"
"Certainly," said Miss Berengaria, sharply, "and I know what you are going to tell us. This Beryl creature murdered Sir Simon when he was away from the theatre."
"Impossible!" said Lucy and Alice in one breath.
"He could scarcely have done it in half an hour," said Conniston.
"But he did for all that," said Durham. "Remember, the Curtain Theatre is only ten minutes' walk from Crimea Square. Beryl could easily slip round and strangle Sir Simon—as he did."
"I knew it," cried Miss Berengaria, triumphantly. "Tell us all about it, Durham. Aha! we'll see that reptile dancing on nothing."