I reddened. The detective's statement had slipped my mind, but I refused to be ridiculed into changing my opinion. I could have staked my life upon it that the study was dark.
"Of course I was not in the room itself," I returned stiffly, "but by the hesitating way in which Mrs. Darwin entered and from the fact that no glow came through the doorway as she opened the door, I judged that the study was in darkness."
"The lamp on this table could never give sufficient light to be seen from that doorway, Mr. Davies," remarked the coroner.
I shook my head impatiently. "Nevertheless, I am convinced the study was in darkness," I reiterated stubbornly.
Seeing that he was getting nowhere he dropped the point, and asked: "Did you also see the pistol in Mrs. Darwin's hand?"
There was no use in quibbling since the fact was known, and I had no idea of what Ruth herself would say on this point, so I replied in the affirmative, adding: "As I stood in the doorway I could see that Mr. Darwin had been shot as plainly as I could see that Mrs. Darwin was standing beside his chair."
"I thought you said the study was in darkness?"
"It was, but the lamp was lighted as I sprang for the door."
"Then you think there may have been someone else in the room?"
"Yes."