CARDONA puffed his cigar and became thoughtful. Philip Farmington noted that the detective was considering the matter minutely. He decided to assist him.
“Suppose,” he said, “that I tell you everything that has happened since I gave the announcement to the evening newspapers, yesterday.”
“Good idea!” replied the detective.
“Well,” said the millionaire, “they had been questioning me constantly. I made up my mind to act, without telling any one definitely. At noon yesterday, I received a call from the Evening Sphere. It was the usual call. Any decision planned on the Fascist loan? I said that it would probably be settled favorably to-day.
“I came home before three o’clock. I was in this room until nearly six. Then I dressed for dinner. About twelve persons arrived before seven thirty. We had dinner, and the guests departed between ten and eleven o’clock.”
“When did the newspapers call you on the phone?”
“Before nine o’clock.”
“When did you discuss the matter with your friends?”
“It was mentioned during dinner.”
“Did anything unusual happen during the evening?”