"Was there any answer?"
"No. But I didn't make anything of that, thinking Mr. Herriard might still be in his bath."
"Was it usual for Mr. Herriard to lock his door?"
"Not to say usual, Inspector, nor yet unusual. I have known him do it, if he was put out, or didn't wish to be disturbed."
"Well, what did you do?"
"I went away again."
"Where to?"
"Just along the upper hall to the sewing-room, meaning to wait a little while. Magpie - that's the second-housemaid - was in there, pressing a skirt, which Miss Paula had asked her to see to. And on my happening to pass the remark that the master had locked his door, she said she had seen Miss Paula only a minute or two before coming away from the door in her dressing-gown."
"She did, did she? Did you see anyone on the upper hall?"
"Not to say see them, Inspector, but when I came up the backstairs I heard a footstep in the hall, and as I came through the archway that leads to the back-landing I saw Mr. Roydon's door shut."