"She gave her evidence to Inspector Colwall," Stephen said.
"Ah, but that won't do for the Department, sir!" said Hemingway mendaciously. "Very strict we are, at Scotland Yard."
"I'll tell you what I did with pleasure," Mathilda said. "But I'm afraid it isn't helpful. First I had a bath, then I dressed, and lastly I came down to the drawing-room."
"And I think Mr. Joseph Herriard was able to corroborate that, wasn't he, miss?"
"Yes. We went upstairs together, and while I had my bath he continued to talk to me from his dressing-room. In fact, I don't recall that he ever stopped talking, except now and then, when he hummed instead."
"Even when you had gone back into your bedroom? Did you go on talking to each other?"
"He went on talking to me," corrected Mathilda.
"Do you mean that you didn't answer him?"
"I said Oh! at intervals. Occasionally I said Yes, when he asked me if I was listening."
"Were you in the habit of talking to Mr. Joseph while you were in your room, miss?"