"He says not, and I believe him; for if he did suspect any particular individual he certainly would gain nothing by concealment of the fact."
"H'm!" said Diana thoughtfully, "so that denial of the saleswoman disposes of the cloak's evidence. What about the Count's presence in Jersey Street on Christmas Eve?"
"He was not there!"
"But Rhoda, the servant, saw him both in the house and in the back yard!"
"She saw a dark man, with a moustache, but she could not say that he was a foreigner. She does not know Ferruci, remember. The man she saw must have been the same as the purchaser of the cloak."
"Where does Ferruci say he was?"
"At Hampstead, visiting a friend."
"Oh! And what does the friend say?"
"He declares that the Count was with him on Christmas Eve and stayed all night."
"That is very convenient evidence for the Count, Mr. Denzil. Who is this accommodating friend?"