She said, “But I didn’t really see him. You made that up.”
“Perhaps you did see him,” I said, “but just didn’t think of it at the time.”
“No. I didn’t see him. Anyway, I don’t remember having seen him.”
“Well, he was there all right, and he’s the important figure in the case. If you ask me, I don’t think that other man you saw had anything to do with it. He didn’t look like a murderer, did he?”
“No. He most certainly didn’t. I told Mr. Ellis about that. He looked very grave and dignified and respectable, but the more I think of it, the more I think he acted frightened.”
“You probably acted frightened yourself,” I said. “Suppose someone had seen you coming out of that apartment?”
“I know,” she said. “I’ve thought of that a lot.”
“All right,” I said. “I’ve seen Mr. Ellis. I put the cards on the table. I told him exactly who I was and what I was doing and what my interest in the case was, and I told him that I was interested in you. He gave me the job of putting you in a safe place.”
“In a safe place?”
“Yes. They don’t think this place is safe. Too many people know of it. They don’t want to put a guard here because that will attract attention. They d prefer to have you go someplace under another name. I told him I’d take care of it.”