The bolder of the two maids had advanced as he was speaking, and now she stared suspiciously at him in the dim light from the car lamps.
“Excuse me, sir,” she ventured. “How do I know that it's all right?”
“You mean I might be a burglar, I suppose?” Dr. Ringwood answered patiently. “Well, here's Inspector Flamborough. He's surely protection enough for you.”
The maid examined Flamborough with relief.
“Oh, that's all right, sir. I saw Inspector Flamborough once at the police sports. That's him, right enough. I'm sorry to have been a bit suspicious, sir——”
“Quite right,” Dr. Ringwood reassured her. “Now, just get off to bed, will you. We've got the patient to think about.”
“Is it a bad accident, sir?”
“Very serious, perhaps. Talking won't mend it, anyhow.”
Dr. Ringwood's temper was becoming slightly frayed by the maid's persistence. However, she took the hint and retired with her companion into the house. Inspector Flamborough made a gesture which arrested them at the door.
“By the way, when did young Mr. Hassendean leave the house to-night?” he demanded.