Vance had been studying him from the corner of his eye.
“Did you happen to see any one enter or leave this house this morning, Mr. Pardee?” he asked.
The man shook his head slowly.
“No one in particular. I noticed two young men—friends of Miss Dillard—call at about ten o’clock; and I saw Beedle go out with her market basket. But that’s all I recall.”
“Did you see either of these young men depart?”
“I don’t remember.” Pardee knit his brows. “And yet it seems to me one of them left by the range gate. But it’s only an impression.”
“What time would that have been?”
“Really, I couldn’t say. Perhaps an hour or so after his arrival. I wouldn’t care to be more specific.”
“You recall no other person whatever either coming or going from the house this morning?”
“I saw Miss Dillard return from the tennis courts about half past twelve, just as I was called to lunch. In fact, she waved her racket to me.”