"It makes no difference to me when he was shot," said Ermyntrude. "I've been lying down the whole afternoon on my bed."
"And you, miss?" said the Inspector, turning suddenly towards Mary.
"I came downstairs just before my cousin set out to go to the Dower House. When he left, I went out to get some tomatoes from one of the hot-houses."
"Where is this hot-house, miss?"
"By the kitchen-garden, on the other side of the house."
"I take it you heard nothing?"
"No, nothing at all."
"I see, miss." The Inspector shut his notebook. "I should like to interview the servants, if you please."
"Certainly," Mary replied. "But only the butler and his wife, and the under-housemaid are in. The rest of them went out immediately after luncheon. If you'll come into the morning-room, I'll send the butler to you at once."
The Inspector thanked her, and followed her to the morning-room. Ermyntrude, after commenting acridly on the effrontery of policemen who behaved as though the place belonged to them, allowed herself to be persuaded to go into the drawing-room.