“Very well. Stage him about nine o’clock. Anything else?”
Mr. Winter pondered a little while; then he addressed Hume hesitatingly:
“Does Mr. Brett know everything that happened after the murder?”
“I think so. Yes.”
“Everything! Say three-quarters of an hour afterwards?”
The effect of this remark on Hume was very pronounced. His habitual air of reserve gave place to a state of decided confusion.
“What are you hinting at?” he cried, striving hard to govern his voice.
“Well, it must out, sooner or later. Why did you go to meet Miss Helen Layton in the avenue about 1.30 a.m.—soon after Sir Alan’s body had been examined by the doctor?’
“Oh, damn it, man, how did you ascertain that?” groaned Hume.
“I knew it all along, but I did not see that it was very material to the case, and I wanted to keep the poor young lady’s name out of the affair as far as possible. I did not want to suggest that she was an accessory after the crime.”