“Very, sir. I’ll lose my star, and perhaps I’ll be prosecuted. But I’m glad I did it.”
CHAPTER XXIII
HOW A WRONG LOOKED RIGHT
Janet Ferguson came in a moment later, having promptly answered Phoebe’s summons. After greeting her in his kindly way the governor said:
“I’m puzzled about your father’s keys. What happened to them the day following his death? Tell me, please?”
Janet tried to remember.
“Usually he left his office key at the post office, but carried the bunch of small keys on his person,” she replied. “Father was very absent-minded at times, and I think he was not feeling quite himself the evening before—before his attack. For it seems he hung his key ring, containing all the keys, on the peg inside the post office window, instead of leaving just the office key. But the next morning Hazel Chandler discovered the keys and brought them to me—all except the office key, which was left hanging upon the peg. That key Mr. Chandler afterward turned over to Mr. Spaythe, to whom Toby Clark also gave his office key.”
“And the smaller keys—the ones that unlocked the cupboard and the private boxes, such as Mrs. Ritchie’s?”
“When Hazel brought them to me I asked her to carry them to Mr. Spaythe, and I understand she did so. She delivered them to him on her way back to the post office.”
“Of course. It is all very clear and comprehensive now, Miss Ferguson. I thank you. I am not making an official investigation of this case, you understand. Phoebe and I have concocted a little conspiracy to arrive at the truth and we are doing our best to clear up the mystery of Mrs. Ritchie’s lost box—for personal reasons only.”