“I’ll meet you here, say, at six o’clock. How’s that?”
“That will suit me perfectly.” Von Blon rose. “And now, if I can be of no more service . . .”
“That’s quite all right, doctor,” said Markham. “Go right ahead.”
But instead of immediately leaving the house Von Blon went up-stairs, and we heard him knock on Sibella’s door. A few minutes later he came down again and passed on to the front door without a glance in our direction.
In the meantime Snitkin had come in and informed the Sergeant that Captain Jerym was leaving Police Headquarters at once and would arrive within half an hour. He had then gone outside to make his measurements of the footprints on the balcony steps.
“And now,” suggested Markham, “I think we might see Mrs. Greene. It’s possible she heard something. . . .”
Vance roused himself from apparent lethargy.
“By all means. But first let us get a few facts in hand. I long to hear where the nurse was during the half-hour preceding Rex’s demise. And I could bear to know if the old lady was alone immediately following the firing of the revolver.—Why not have our Miss Nightingale on the tapis before we brave the invalid’s imprecations?”
Markham concurred, and Heath sent Sproot to summon her.
The nurse came in with an air of professional detachment; but her roseate cheeks had paled perceptibly since we last saw her.