It sounds such a ludicrous little thing; for, you see, the whole story turns upon nothing but a crack in the chimney.
No more than that?
No, not to begin with.
[He moves a chair nearer to HILDA and sits down.
[Impatiently, taps on her knee.] Well, now for the crack in the chimney!
I had noticed the split in the flue long, long before the fire. Every time I went up into the attic, I looked to see if it was still there.
And it was?
Yes; for no one else knew about it.
And you said nothing?
Nothing.