"You didn't see anyone, or notice any movement in all this shrubbery?" asked the Inspector, looking round with disfavour upon his leafy surroundings.
"Oh no, nothing like that! For a moment I simply didn't realise it. I mean, I hadn't an idea of anything like that happening."
"No, miss. And did youu notice where the shot seemed to come from?"
"Not at the time, because I was too shocked to think, only now I feel sure it must have come from somewhere there," Janet said, indicating the shrubbery that stretched up to the Dower House.
The inspector did not appear to be much gratified by this somewhat dubious testimony. White cast a look of withering contempt at his daughter, and said in an exasperated tone: "You were asked what you noticed at the time, not what you feel sure of now. Sorry, Inspector: my daughter's a bit upset. Though, as a matter of fact, I believe she's right. I had a distinct impression of a shot being fired from somewhere in that direction."
The Inspector transferred his attention to him. "And you were standing just where, sir?"
"By my study window. You can't see it from here - it's behind that clump of azaleas — but I'll show you."
The Inspector turned to stare at the sombre mass of rhododendron bushes. "Those shrubs stretch as far as the road?" he asked.
"Yes, on both sides of the stream. Only it's a much bigger plantation on the Palings's side, of course. The road goes off to the right over the bridge across the stream, you know, skirting Mrs. Carter's grounds. We're only about fifty yards from the road here."
The Inspector nodded. "We'll look into that presently, sir. Now, when Miss White screamed, what did you do?"