“Mrs. Ives, you have told us that when you were standing in darkness you heard a sound that frightened you. Was it someone trying the door?”
“Oh, no; the door was open. It wasn’t anything as clear as that. I thought first that it was someone moving in the bushes, but it was probably simply my imagination.”
“You didn’t hear anyone whistling?”
“No.”
“You are quite sure that neither of you locked the door?”
“Absolutely. Why should we lock the door?”
“I must remind you again, Mrs. Ives, that it is I who am examining you. Now, you say that you went into the room ahead of Mr. Bellamy?”
“Yes.”
“How far were you from the body when you first saw it?”
In the paper-white face the eyes dilated, suddenly, dreadfully. “I don’t know. Quite near—three feet—four feet.”