“In other words, and to put it in its most brutal form, he left Midlington and came secretly to Cartordale, having first obtained some poison, secured an entrance to White Towers, poisoned Sir Philip’s whisky, disappeared—”
“But I don’t believe—” Kitty began.
“No,” I said, “of course you don’t, but that summary of possibilities represents your fears.”
“Why doesn’t he show up?” Thoyne interposed.
“Yes,” I agreed, “that is precisely the question we have to answer. Could he have got into White Towers without being seen? You and he lived there as children and I have been told that you were veritable little imps of mischief. All sorts of things would be possible in connection with a big and ancient mansion like White Towers.”
Kitty looked woefully distressed and turned with white-faced, pathetic pleading to Thoyne.
“I should tell everything, Kitty, dear,” he said.
“There is a secret way into White Towers which we discovered years ago,” she replied. “We agreed to keep it to ourselves and I have never told anyone. I don’t think anyone knows of it except my brother and myself.”
I regarded her thoughtfully for a moment or two.
“Well, now,” I said, “you know of that secret way—could you have entered White Towers and placed the poison in that bottle without being seen?”