“Did you and the Colonel remain in the box throughout the performance?”
“No. After the first act a friend of mine came to the box, and the Colonel excused himself and went to the wash-room. After the second act, the Colonel and I stepped outside into the alley-way and had a smoke.”
“What time, would you say, was the first act over?”
“Twelve-thirty or thereabouts.”
“And where is this alley-way situated?” asked Vance. “As I recall, it runs along the side of the theatre to the street.”
“You’re right.”
“And isn’t there an ‘exit’ door very near the boxes, which leads into the alley-way?”
“There is. We used it that night.”
“How long was the Colonel gone after the first act?”
“A few minutes—I couldn’t say exactly.”