The question was asked carelessly, but the doctor knew very well what was in the lawyer’s mind, and his thoughts flew to the other side of the book-lined wall to his left—to the room where Jean Bower was sitting, waiting for this long interview to end.
“No,” he said quietly, “I have never had a dispensary, Toogood. For what it’s worth, I may tell you that I make it a rule to keep no drugs in my house at all. Were it otherwise, I should be constantly worried by the village people. When I prescribe anything of the kind they’ve got to trudge into Grendon to get it.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to mention Miss Prince and her amateur doctoring, but he refrained. After all, Miss Prince, whatever her special knowledge, could no more procure poison than could the simplest cottage wife in Terriford village. So, after a moment’s pause, he only added: “How about a statement from me, Toogood?”
“I think we had better let the Crown people see you first,” said the solicitor thoughtfully. “After all, you’ve nothing to conceal. So it may be better for you to be a Crown witness friendly to our side.”
Both men stood up.
“I should like to ask you one delicate question, Maclean”; the lawyer hesitated, then went on: “Of course you are aware that the fellow who got up this case originally—I mean Kentworthy—procured a deposition stating that Garlett and some young woman used to meet in a wood at night last spring. Are you certain that that young woman was not your niece? Forgive me for asking the question. I won’t press it, if you’d rather not answer.”
“I’d stake my life that it was not my niece!” exclaimed the doctor.
“Without going quite so far as that, I’m inclined to agree with you, and it confirms a view I’ve formed in the last few hours.”
“What view is that?” asked Dr. Maclean, eagerly.
“My view,” said the solicitor quietly, “is that there was a second woman in Garlett’s life. A woman who was never seen in Terriford at all—whom he probably came to know years before he ever saw your niece. If he had some secret married woman friend who had, say, lately become a widow, we have a second person who may have had an interest in Mrs. Garlett’s death.”