"And he was on the point of leaving when he perceived that he would be followed?"
"That is what I have been told."
"And, believing that he was about to be arrested, he returned to the house and shot himself."
"That's the story."
"As a matter of fact, wasn't he mistaken?"
"In what way?" said McKenna, steeling himself under an appearance of surprise.
"Were not the detectives your own men—placed by you at Mr. Slade's orders to acquaint him with every move of Mr. Majendie?" persisted Mrs. Kildair.
"That would make a good Sunday thriller," said McKenna, laughing boisterously.
"That is my guess," she said, drawing back as though satisfied. "I am certain that Majendie committed suicide through the blunder of believing he was threatened with arrest."
"My dear Mrs. Kildair," said the detective, rising, "I see that what you want to know is, am I for or against Mr. Slade. If I'm not in his employ you think I'm retained by his enemies. Well, I don't intend to give you any information."