"That was early in the evening,--before eight. Did you come straight home?"
"Yes."
"But when Lawrence called at a quarter before nine,--"
"I had shut myself up in my room with a headache, and told Eliza to deny me to any caller."
"Then did you go out again, later?"
She looked surprised. "Yes. I went out to the drugstore afterwards to get something to make me sleep. I was nervous and overwrought, and I wanted to get a quiet night's sleep. Then I came home and went in at the side door and up to my room."
"Do you know what time it was?"
"Yes, my grandfather met me in the hall and was very much excited to find that I had been out alone so late at night. It was a few minutes before ten. I noticed the time particularly, because he was so annoyed about it."
"It all seems very simple, now," said Lyon, cheerfully. "Just what Bede may have up his sleeve, of course I don't know. But I think that with the information that you have given me, we can checkmate him very neatly. Now I must see Howell. With this elimination of the fatal cane as an element in the case, I cannot see that there is anything to connect Lawrence directly with the situation. I think we can expect to have him free at once. If we only could really discover the actual murderer, it might be better, but I am hopeful, as things are."
"Was that all you wanted to see my canes for?" protested Mr. Wolcott, with an air of injury.