"On the evidence, yes."
"You speak with some reservation, Mr. Quarles."
"I want to bring the whole argument into focus, as it were," the professor went on. "It was a settlement day on the Stock Exchange. I believe a point was made three years ago that it was curious no one had seen Farrell return, since many people who knew him would be about Austin Friars late that night. This does not seem to me much of an argument. If he returned between nine and ten he might easily escape notice. What does seem to me curious is that he should choose such a day to leave the office early, and tell a lie about it into the bargain. He said he had an appointment with Miss Lester, and we know he had not."
"Ought we not to say that we know she says he had not?" Delverton corrected. "I do not wish to be captious, but—"
"You are quite right," said Quarles; "we must be precise. You knew Miss
Lester, of course?"
"I did not see her until after Farrell's death, then I saw her several times. She seemed rather a charming person."
"You have not seen her since her marriage?"
"No."
"I saw her the other day," said Quarles, "and I quite endorse your opinion. She is charming, and I do not think she is the kind of woman to tell a deliberate falsehood. If Farrell had had an appointment with her I think she would have said so."
"I am making no accusation against her," was the answer. "I was only sticking to the actual evidence."