"I'm sorry to have to break it to you like this," he said.
"It doesn't matter," she jerked out, holding her head up. "Thank you for coming. Do you - happen to know - anything more?"
"Very little. The fool whom I put on to keep an eye on him let him out of his sight. I owe you an apology."
One of her hands went out gropingly towards the table and grasped the edge of it. "You put that man there - to watch him — because you thought - he might fall into the river?"
"Not quite that. I thought that after his exceedingly rash visit to the manor an attempt on his life might possibly be made."
"You're clever," she said in a low voice. "I misjudged you." She paused. "Was he - pushed into the river?"
"I can only give you the facts and leave you to draw your own conclusions," he replied. "There is one witness only. Collins."
She started. "Ah!"
"Precisely. When Constable Tucker came up to the scene of the - accident - he found Collins dragging your brother's body up the bank. Between them they applied artificial respiration until the sergeant and I came."
She repeated, as though imperfectly understanding: "Collins tried to save him?"