“Why did you not tell me that the key to the south door disappeared last night?” he began abruptly.
“I forgot it. I ordered a new key to be made for that lock and will have it before night. But of course I had to leave the south door unlocked last night.”
“It seems to me you forget rather important things.” He spoke sharply.
“I have certain duties to think of,” I responded as sharply. “And anyway you didn’t ask me.”
The tightness around his eyes relaxed somewhat but he did not smile. He rose, went to the door, and after a dissatisfied glance into the main hall he beckoned me into the inner office, shut the door and sat down at the desk. For a moment he sat there silently, his face in his hands.
“Sit down, Miss Keate,” he said presently, motioning toward Dr. Balman’s cot, and as I did so he swung around in the swivel chair to face me. “Hope nobody wants to use this room for a few moments,” he said wearily. “I’ve got to think. Look here, was that key gone when you came on duty last night at twelve o’clock?”
“Yes. Olma Flynn, who has first watch, could not find it. She told me of its disappearance as soon as I came on duty.”
He nodded slowly.
“Thus providing an easy way into St. Ann’s. . . . Into the south wing——” he murmured, and broke off, staring into space, his eyes clouded and far away.
Then all at once he began to talk, leaned back in the chair, and linked his hands together.