“Not more than ten minutes; hardly as long, I think.”
“Who discovered her absence?”
“I did. I returned to get my handkerchief, which I had left in the room. I found the room deserted. Clara had gone, but her suit case and hand bag still are there. I came out, of course, and I at once saw Mr. Vandyke coming up the side stairs. I told him about it, Mr. Carter, and he said that Clara probably was with Mr. Clayton in his room. He knocked, but received no answer. He then went in and found that Mr. Clayton also was missing.”
“Did you make any inquiries among the guests here in the hall?”
“Yes, immediately. We could find no one who had seen either of them go out. Strange though it seems, both of them have mysteriously disappeared, leaving their luggage in their rooms.”
“You say that Miss Langham, or, rather, Mrs. Clayton, was clad in her outside garments?”
“Yes, sir. She had on her hat, veil, and jacket, and was ready to leave at any moment.”
“What is her traveling costume?”
“A navy-blue suit with hat and veil to match.”
“Who, now, is in her room?”