Corole paused before replying, I suppose to be sure that she was admitting nothing as to her own activities on that dark night.
“It must have been just before one o’clock. I think it was just after Louis had gone to Room 18 with Sarah to visit his patient there.”
“Did Miss Day return at once to the hospital?”
“Yes, I think so. She was in a rage. I think poor Louis managed to kiss her and Maida is deplorably high-spirited. She struck him at the last; I was sure of that. They parted on very unfriendly terms.” Her eyes slanted maliciously at O’Leary, but he was engrossed in studying the soft figures on the rug at his feet.
“Why do you tell me all this, Miss Letheny?” he asked quietly.
She raised her thin, plucked eyebrows at this, delicately.
“Didn’t you ask me to tell you anything that could help you? I should think that it would be of value to know that the last person known to have been with Louis was quarrelling violently with him.”
“As a matter of fact, you have done Miss Day a favour,” remarked Lance O’Leary. “You have very kindly explained the presence of Miss Day’s lapis cuff link in the pocket of Dr. Letheny’s dinner jacket.”
Corole’s eyes flickered.
“I thought you said you were not surprised to hear this—as if you already knew it.”