‘All of them?’
The butler hesitated.
‘There was one, a M. Felix, who waited after the others. He was differently situated to them, being a friend of the family. The others were merely acquaintances.’
‘And how long did he wait after the others?’
François looked confused and did not immediately reply.
‘Well, I don’t know, monsieur,’ he said slowly. ‘You see, it was this way. I happened to have a rather bad headache that evening, and Madame asked me if I was not well—it was just like her to notice such a thing—and she told me to go to bed and not to sit up for Monsieur. She said M. Felix was waiting to get some books and would let himself out.’
‘So you went to bed?’
‘Yes, monsieur. I thanked her, and went after a little time.’
‘About how long?’
‘Perhaps half an hour.’