"About Miss Dean?"
"I could not say, I am sure," said Sturry primly. "But when I was about to enter the drawing-room this evening with the cocktail-tray, I heard Mr. Herriard shout at Mr. Stephen that he was quite as bad as his sister, and that it was the last time either of them should come to Lexham'
"Is that so?" said the Inspector, very much on the alert. "He was quarrelling with Miss Herriard too, was he?"
"Mr. Herriard was in general very indulgent with Miss Paula," said Sturry. "Though I have reason to believe that he looked with disfavour upon her connection with the stage. But Miss Paula most regrettably brought down with her to spend Christmas a Person of the name of Roydon."
The Inspector knew what this method of referring to Roydon implied, and was inclined to sympathise with Sturry. "He didn't like Roydon?"
"I gathered, Inspector," said Sturry grandly, "that he considered Miss Paula's friendship with the young man Unsuitable."
"I could see he wasn't out of the top-drawer."
"Mr. Roydon," said Sturry, with impressive reserve, "is a very estimable young man, I am sure, but he is Out of Place in an establishment where eight indoor servants are employed."
The Inspector's sympathy veered momentarily towards Roydon. "I understand he wanted the deceased to put up some money for a play, or something?"
"That, Inspector, was Miss Paula's object in bringing him to Lexham. Two thousand pounds was the figure I heard her name to Mr. Herriard."