“I had been trying to reach Mr. Thorne for some time, both at his home in Lakedale and in town.”
“Mr. Thorne does not live in Rosemont?”
“No; he lives the other side of Lakedale, which is about twelve miles nearer New York. When I finally reached him, after his return from a golf match, I explained to him the urgency of getting into the house as early as possible the following morning and suggested that he might drive over after dinner and leave the keys under the mat of the cottage. I apologized to Mr. Thorne for causing him so much trouble, and he remarked that it was no trouble at all, as——”
“No, not what he remarked, Mr. Conroy—only what you said.”
“I do not remember that I said anything further of any importance.”
“Do you know at what time Mr. Thorne is in the habit of dining, Mr. Conroy?”
“I do not, sir.”
“How long should you say that it would take to drive from Mr. Thorne’s home to Orchards?”
“It is, roughly, about fourteen miles. I should imagine that it would depend entirely on the rate at which you drove.”
“Driving at an ordinary rate, some thirty-five to forty minutes, should you say?”