“I know that there is another route—yes. I was not aware that it was much shorter.”
“Well, for your information I may state that it is some three miles shorter. Can you describe this route to us?”
“Not very well, I’m afraid. I’m not at all familiar with it. I believe that it is the road that Mr. Thorne was speaking of having taken that night, leading into the back of Orchards.”
“Your supposition is entirely correct. Now, will you tell us just how you get there?”
“As I said, I’m not sure that I can. I believe that you continue on down the River Road until you turn off down a rather narrow, rough little road that leads directly to the back gates of Orchards. It’s practically a private road, I believe, ending at the estate.”
“What is its name?”
“I’m not sure, but I believe that it’s something like Thorne Path, or Road, or Lane—I’m pretty clear that it has the name Thorne in it.”
“Oh, you’re clear about that, are you, in spite of the fact that you’ve never been near it?”
“You misunderstood me evidently. I never said that I had never been near it. As a matter of fact, I have been over it several times—two or three anyway.”
“And yet you wish us to believe that you have no idea of either the name or the distance?”