“I realized nothing,” interrupted Lord Charles swiftly. “How could I? I know now, of course, that they had gone down in the lift and that she had made that — that terrible discovery, and that it was while the lift returned that she screamed. But at the time I was quite in the dark. I simply became aware of the sound.”
“Thank you,” said Fox again, and wrote in his notebook. He looked over the top of his spectacles at Lord Charles.
“And then, my lord? What would you say happened next?”
“What happened next was that I went out to the landing followed by the two boys. My wife and my girls — my daughters — came out of 26 at the same time. I think my youngest boy, Michael, appeared from somewhere but he wasn’t there for long. The lift was returning and was almost up to our landing.”
“Up to the landing,” repeated Fox to his notes. “And who was in the lift, my lord?”
“Surely that’s clear enough,” said Lord Charles. “I thought you understood that my brother and his wife and my son were in the lift.”
“Yes, my lord, that is how I understand the case at present. I’m afraid this will seem very annoying to you but you see we usually take statements separately for purposes of comparison.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Fox. Of course you do. I’m afraid I’m—”
“Very natural, my lord, that you should be, I’m sure. Then I take it that Lady Wutherwood must have begun to scream while the lift was near the bottom of the shaft?”
Lord Charles twisted his mouth wryly and said yes.