"That was quite the proper thing to do," he said. "I suppose you don't know what time the key was fetched again from the office?"
"Oh, that I cannot tell you. You see, I went to bed about two o'clock and I was up again at seven. When I took Mrs. Delahay up her cup of early tea she was in bed then."
"Really! Did you notice anything strange about her?"
"There was nothing to notice. She appeared to be very bright and cheerful, and chatted to me in the friendliest possible way. She did say something to the effect that she was a little uneasy about her husband, who had not yet returned, and that she must go and look for him. But beyond that I saw nothing that was in the least out of the common."
"I think that will do," Dallas observed. "I won't detain you any longer. I. know how busy you are."
Dallas went straight away downstairs and interviewed the clerk in the office. The latter's memory was a little vague on the subject of the coming and going of the various hotel guests. There were hundreds of them in the course of a week, and it was the habit of most of them to leave the key of their rooms in the office every time they went out. The speaker had no recollection of Mrs. Delahay calling for her key very late on the night of the tragedy. He debated the point thoughtfully for a moment, then his face lighted up.
"I think I can help you," he exclaimed.
[CHAPTER XI.]
THE EXPRESS LETTER.
"Take your time," Dallas said, encouragingly. "I don't want to hurry you. All I want are facts."