The Prince's smile faded; he threw up his hands, exclaiming: "Ah, not more police! It becomes too much! My poor Trudinka, you are distressed: they have been worrying you again! You should have sent for me immediately!"
"I'm sure that's just like you, Alexis, always so thoughtful and sweet to me!" said Ermyntrude warmly. "I was going to send for you, too, because it's you the Inspector wants to see."
The Prince raised his brows. "Yes? I am at your disposal Inspector, though what more I can say I do not know. I have told all I know. I must confess I do not understand these English methods. What do you want with me?"
"Well, I'd like a little chat with you alone, sir," said Hemingway.
"I'm sure you needn't be so anxious to keep me in the dark!" said Ermyntrude. "I'd like to know who had a bigger right to know what's going on! What's more, I dare say I can answer your questions a lot better than the Prince can. It stands to reason!"
"Yes, but I'm funny like that," returned Hemingway, quite unruffled. "When I ask one person a question I get muddled in my head if half a dozen other people start answering."
"But naturally I will go apart with you, my dear Inspector!" said the Prince, recovering his smile. "Come! I am at your service!"
He bowed the Inspector out of the room, and took him across the hall to the library. As he closed the door, he said: "You do not wish me to repeat my evidence, that is certain. You wish to question me about the affair at the shoot on Saturday. But it is absurd! I must tell you at once that for myself l do not believe that it was anything but a foolish accident. That Mr. Steel would fire with deliberation upon Mr. Carter I find ridiculous. It is not possible. I cannot discuss such a piece of nonsense."
"That's right, sir, and very handsomely spoken, I'm sure," said the Inspector. "I won't ask you anything at all about it."
"Ah!" said the Prince, rather taken aback. "You are a sensible man, I perceive. You do not set any store by the strange suspicions of poor Mr. Carter. I can speak openly to you, in effect."