“Well, by gracious, that’s jolly funny!” he declared, drawing up in his chair.
“Funny! What do you mean?” Chick inquired.
“Why, it’s like this,” Barclay proceeded to explain. “I use this top floor for my studio, where I get the best light. I was at work here quite late last night. It must have been nearly midnight. Here, come this way. Come to the window.”
Chick arose and accompanied him to a broad window overlooking most of the square, including the hospital building and grounds. Only a small part of the grounds was hidden from view by the building itself.
“Last night, just after I finished my work, I looked out here for a breath of fresh air,” Barclay resumed. “It was quite dark down below, but I caught sight of a motor cab, one of the noiseless type that is run by electricity, for it moved without a sound. I followed it with my eyes, having nothing better to do, and I saw it stop at a gate leading into the hospital grounds.”
“That rear gate beyond the west wing?”
“Yes, the same.” Barclay turned and nodded. “Do you suppose it figured in the case you mentioned?”
“I would not be surprised,” Chick said a bit grimly. “Continue. What more did you see?”
“Nothing very definite,” Barclay said. “I was not watching the cab suspiciously or with a very lively interest, though it struck me as being rather singular that it stopped at that gate, instead of in front of the hospital, or at a house on this side of the street, if the occupants were going there.”
“Did you see any one enter the cab or leave it?”