"Is it a modern play?" asked Mrs. Fane.
"Yes," answered Miss Mason, rather surprised at this interest being taken in the drama, for which Julia had no great love. "It is a three-act modern comedy, The Third Man."
"I read the notice of it, Laura dear. I fancy I remember that in the second act there is a fancy dress ball. I suppose Mr. Calvert wears a fancy dress in that act."
"He is dressed as a Venetian. Why do you ask that?"
Mrs. Fane evaded the question. "My dear," she said gravely, "when I found Mr. Calvert with Walter, I came to read about the two rooms, at Hampstead and this house--being similar, you know. The paper said that the other house--in Coleridge Lane, I believe--was owned by a Mrs. Brand. Mr. Calvert admitted that he had a cousin called Flora Brand, and I have a suspicion--no facts though--that this Flora Brand is the woman who was murdered here."
"You have no right to say that, Julia," said Laura quickly.
"I have no ground to go on, certainly," admitted Mrs. Fane in a most provokingly calm manner, "but I am certain that the woman was murdered here, and that she is Flora Brand, Mr. Calvert's cousin."
Laura, who was changing from red to white and from white to red, looked straightly at Julia. "What do you mean?"
"Mr. Calvert," said Mrs. Fane, "is dressed as a Venetian in the second act of this play. Probably he would wear a dagger--as a Venetian he would certainly wear a dagger--a stage dagger."
"He does. What of that?"