"So that it was at least five minutes, possibly even longer, after you discovered Sir Arthur before you went back to the terrace?"
"I have no idea," she replied. "I should think it quite probable."
Harding got up. "Thank you, Mrs. Twining. I won't ask you any more just at present." She rose, and went towards the door. He held it open for her, and as she passed out, said: "I wonder if you would be kind enough to ask Lady Billington-Smith if she will come here?"
She bowed. "Certainly, Inspector," she said, and wens out.
Chapter Ten
Harding shut the door behind Mrs. Twining, and walked slowly back to the table. "Well, Sergeant?"
The Sergeant pursed his lips. "You want to know how it struck me, sir?"
"Very much."
"Well, I'd say she behaved very cool," said the Sergeant, thinking it over. "Very cool indeed. I don't say it didn't happen just as she said, but it would have seemed to me more natural-like if she'd run out of the room just as soon as she saw the General was dead."
"I agree with you. At the same time she gives me the impression of being a woman of considerable strength of character." He hunted through his papers for Fay's statement. "She was keeping something back, of course. from what I can gather, Sir Arthur's temper was not quite so evanescent as she would have had us believe."