“Stop crying!” exclaimed Mrs. Burnham. “I have no intention of hurting your feelings, Matilda; I came here to get facts.”
“Facts about what?”
“About what transpired in this house on Monday and Tuesday last.”
Mrs. Ward shook her head. “I can’t help you there,” she replied. “I’m plain puzzled myself.”
“There is always a solution to a puzzle,” responded Mrs. Burnham. “Answer my questions and we will find it. At what hour did you reach this house?”
“Tuesday afternoon, just after Miss Evelyn found the dead man.”
“And where did you spend Monday night?” Mrs. Ward’s eyelids flickered and Mrs. Burnham continued tranquilly: “I am quite aware you left Chelsea Monday afternoon, Matilda.”
Mrs. Ward made no response and after a lengthened pause Mrs. Burnham spoke again. “Why did you come to Washington twenty-four hours before you were told to?”
“I didn’t,” replied Mrs. Ward hotly. “I had to go to Baltimore on business; the wire came for me after you had left for New York. The servants all had their Washington railroad tickets for Tuesday and the house was even then in order; so I didn’t see any harm, ma’am, in leaving Jones to close the house. You’ve always trusted him.”
“I still trust Jones,” dryly. “That is not the point. I wish to know why you displayed so much emotion on the discovery of the dead man in our library.”