There was a challenging, debonair charm about him of which both detectives were conscious.
“Was there anyone in the billiard-room when you came through it because you were hungry?” Bernard inquired politely.
“No, it was deserted.”
“Did you go through the library to the front room?”
Allen shook his head.
“The door into the rear hall was closed at that time. I went through the front hall.”
“Who did you find in the reception-room?”
“The entire household, except Joel Harrison! I tried to get Anita to come away and finally led her up to her room. After that I found Graham in the library and told him I was leaving. He asked me to stay, so Russell and I had dinner with Mrs. Graham. Then we went to the billiard-room and stayed there.”
“Except for your walk,” nodded Bernard.