"I don't know. I can't remember."
"Come, come, miss! Don't you think you would remember if anyone had made a threat like that?"
"Oh, it wasn't a threat!" Mary said unguardedly. "Mr. Steel was very angry with Mr. Carter for upsetting his wife, and people do say stupid things when they're angry."
"And it didn't seem important to you, in view of what has happened?"
"No, not in the least."
"You weren't surprised that Mr. Steel should say such a thing?"
"No. He has rather a quick temper," She broke off, aghast at her own disclosures.
"He has a quick temper, has he? Perhaps he has said very much the same sort of thing before about what he'd like to do to Mr. Carter?"
"No, indeed he hasn't!"
"Oh? And yet you weren't surprised when he said it today?"