“Not since this letter to you,” she replied calmly and Mrs. Hale, intent on framing her next question, failed to analyze her answer.
“Did he make any reference to coming to Washington?”
“Only in a general way,” and before Mrs. Hale could question her further, she added, “His letter of ten days ago said that he might be here in April.”
“Ah!” Mrs. Hale felt that she had scored a point. “That goes to prove that Austin’s trip here Tuesday was unexpected.”
“So unexpected that he never even wired you,” supplemented Polly, and Mrs. Hale eyed her sharply.
“True,” she replied. “It must have been something frightfully urgent that brought him here—to his death.”
Polly shivered slightly and laid down the letter.
“When did Austin mail this letter to you?”
“I don’t know.”
Polly glanced at her in surprise. “Was there no postmark on the envelope?”