“I waited while he walked over and looked out, and after what seemed an interminable time he came back again.
“ ‘How long was it after the shot before you looked out?’ His voice was very low as he asked the question.
“ ‘Not a quarter of a minute,’ I answered, and we both stood staring at one another in silence.
“ ‘Good God!’ he said at length, ‘what are you driving at?’
“ ‘I’m not driving at anything, Sir Edward,’ I answered. ‘At least, I’m trying not to drive at it. But the man is dead, and the police must be sent for. What are we going to say?’
“ ‘The truth, of course,’ he answered instantly.
“ ‘Quite,’ I said slowly. ‘But what is the truth?’
“He turned very white, and leant against one of the old suits of armour, of which the dead man had a wonderful collection all over the house.
“ ‘Did Lady Granger see this man go out of the window?’ he asked at length.
“ ‘No, she only heard him open it. You see, she says he switched off the light. It was on when I rushed in.’