Mrs. Hale sat speechless for a minute. “Preposterous!” she exclaimed hotly, recovering from her surprise “Why should Major Richards kill a man he does not know?”
Ferguson glanced uneasily at her and came to a quick decision.
“Suppose Major Richards came home and found Austin talking to his wife and became jealous—”
Mrs. Hale bounced out of her chair. “How dare you insinuate that Judith was having an affair with Austin?” she demanded. “You are most insulting—I shall inform Major Richards—”
“My dear madam, pray, calm yourself,” Ferguson begged, appalled by the storm he had provoked. “I thought we agreed to talk over all aspects of the Hale murder—it was your own suggestion.”
“Certainly it was, but I did not expect—” Mrs. Hale sniffed. “If you ask Major Richards to account for all his time Tuesday night he will do so, I am convinced. A man of his temperament and record—”
“Where is his record?” broke in Ferguson. “What is his record? I cannot learn anything about him.”
“His record is on file in the War Department.”
“His army record, yes.” Ferguson pulled out his watch and jumped to his feet “Pardon me, Mrs. Hale, but I have a consultation at my office and must leave at once.”
“Tell me before you go,”—Mrs. Hale detained him with a gesture—“did you find anywhere among Austin’s belongings either here or in New York a railroad ticket?”