"It is difficult for me to say. We were all talking, you see. I don't think it can have been as much as fifteen. Somewhere between five and ten minutes. But I am merely guessing."
"Miss de Silva, then, didn't join you at all?"
"Not until very much later — some little time after one -o'clock."
"I see. And before one o'clock, did anyone leave the terrace?"
"I believe Mr. Guest went upstairs for his tobacco," she replied.
"At about what time, Mrs. Twining?"
"Very soon after Mr. Halliday joined us."
"Before half past twelve, do you think or after?"
She reflected. "Before," she said. "At half past twelve Mrs. Chudleigh called our attention to the time, and said she must go, or she would be late for lunch."
"Had Mr. Guest returned by then?"