“Were you in the habit of keeping it loaded?”
“No. On the contrary, I seldom had a cartridge in it. Yesterday I bought some and filled the chambers.”
“What for?”
“I intended it for the benefit of a cat which spends the midnight keeping people awake.”
“Another evasive answer,” mentally noted Nick.
“Well?”
“Well, I went away without taking it with me. Hence it lay there all day loaded.”
“Did Miss Langdon know the pistol was in that drawer?”
“I suppose she did. The drawer was never locked, and she frequently went there to get things out of it.”
“That is all I have to ask you at present, Mr. Redway. Will you have the kindness to[{24}] remain in the outer office till we have a talk with the office boy?”