“No, I don’t know that!”
“That I was asking if you knew that Miss Palfreeman had lived in China?”
“No, that she had ever lived in China,” I lied as boldly as I could.
“Did you know that they had quarreled?”
“No,” I lied again.
He stared at me and I was not surprised, for even to me it had sounded too loud a denial and somehow unconvincing. He continued to stare, and I could feel the questioning glances of the rest, as I kept my gaze defiantly on his, but he made no further comment.
“Perhaps you will tell us about it, Doctor?”
“No, I don’t think I shall,” The Tundish replied pleasantly. “All I can tell you is this. Miss Palfreeman’s father was in Shanghai for two years while I was resident there. He was representing the Foreign Office in a political mission. We became acquainted and our acquaintance grew into friendship. Then we quarreled. In fact it was largely on account of our quarrel that I left China when I did. But I never at any time had any difference or quarrel with Miss Palfreeman. She naturally enough took her father’s side in our dispute. I don’t know whether she knew any of the facts—the facts, I mean, from her father’s view-point. Of the true facts only myself and one other were ever aware. Anyhow, she quite incorrectly thought that I ruined her father, and she disliked me accordingly. We only referred to the matter once during her visit here, and that was on the evening before her death, when I tried to persuade her to forgive the past. Her father committed suicide, but if necessary I can prove conclusively that I had nothing whatever to do with the trouble that came to him. All I can tell you now is that I made a certain solemn promise that I intend to keep. That promise makes it impossible for me to tell you more than I have already.”
“We are to accept your word for it then, Doctor, that this time, at any rate, you are telling the truth?” the detective sneered.
“That, I must leave to your own discretion,” The Tundish answered with a pleasant smile, quite impervious to the little man’s insinuations.