“And when Mr Vereker left the house on Saturday evening, Jackson was not driving the car?”
“No, sir. It was merely brought round to the door - Mr Vereker having stated that he did not wish to see Jackson's face again.”
“I see. At what hour did Mr Vereker leave this house?”
“He left at ten minutes to eight, sir.”
“You seem sure of that. What fixed the time in your memory?”
“Mr Vereker himself, sir. He remarked on it. I understood him to have a dinner engagement. He was not - ahem - pleased at being detained.”
“What detained him?”
The butler drew in his breath, for this was the moment for which he had been waiting. “A visitor, sir.”
“Who was this visitor?”
“I could not say, sir. He was not a person I had ever seen before. In fact, I should not describe him as the type of gentleman I have been in the habit of admitting to the house. Very down-at-heel, he was, and most determined to see Mr Vereker. Upon my informing him that Mr Vereker was not at home, he set his foot in the door, and replied that he should not leave until he had seen him.”