“Just talking to Stella at the top of the stairs, dear cousin Guy,” replied Randall blandly.
“Stella, what had he been up to?”
Stella glanced fleetingly at Randall, and saw that he was watching her with a faint smile. “I don't know,” she said. “You had better ask him. Anyway, Randall hadn't been near the house for days” — She stopped, and her eyes widened.
“Exactly!” said Guy triumphantly. “Randall hadn't been near the house for days, and therefore Randall never even came under suspicion. But the poison could have been put into the toothpaste at any time, and none of Randall's perfect alibis exist any longer. He hasn't got an alibi!”
Chapter Fourteen
Everyone but Stella looked at Randall. Stella cried hotly: “You're a rotten little cad, Guy! Randall never tried to cast suspicion on to you! Randall's said every spiteful, low-down thing —”
“Yes, because half the time we asked for it! But he didn't try and do the dirty on you, and you know it!”
“What the devil's the matter with you?” demanded Guy, surprised into forgetfulness of his surroundings. “You yourself said he was an amiable snake!”
A low laugh escaped the subject of this argument. “My sweet, did you really?” said Randall. “What a classic phrase!”
“I daresay I did once, but —”