“Do you know what they were quarreling about?”
“No, sir. I did not catch Mr. Harrison’s words.”
“Any other quarrels, Stimson?” inquired Bernard.
“No, sir. Nothing that could apply.”
Bernard frowned.
“Don’t leave out anything!” he ordered. “We’ll judge of whether it applies or not.”
Stimson stirred uneasily, the first sign of discomfort that he had shown.
“Well, sir, Miss Mount was away from the house all day Thursday and returned about seven, looking very tired. When I brought the cocktails into the reception-room that night about seven-thirty I heard Mr. Harrison shouting at her in the library. The end door was closed and I neither listened nor caught what he said. Then Miss Mount came into the front room looking very much upset and I hastened to pour her a cocktail. That was all, sir.”
“What makes you so sure that doesn’t apply?”
“Miss Mount has been a member of the household for many years; longer than I have. I came here ten years ago. There have been other high words more than once between him and Miss Mount. As these were nothing unusual I judged they had nothing to do with the case, sir.”