“You don’t know how often I rehearsed,” she laughed, “nor how much of the essentials I may have omitted!”
“Not much, I fancy. However, you’ll not object, I suppose, to answering a few questions as to details.”
“I wish you to ask anything that suggests itself,” she replied. “I’ve an appointment at the Chateau at five; just give me time to keep it.”
“We’ll get through long before five!” the Superintendent smiled, though his shrewd grey eyes were coldly critical. It was most unlikely that she was the Lady of Peacock Alley; yet all things are possible where a woman is concerned, as he knew from experience. “About what time was it when the cab stopped before the house?” he asked.
“About one o’clock, as near as I can judge,” she answered.
“What was the interval between the driver’s going into the house and the man in evening clothes coming out?”
“Scarcely any interval—not more than a minute.”
“Do you know how long a minute is?” said Ranleigh, drawing out his watch.
“Not exactly!” she admitted.
“Do you mind if I test you?”