“But I tell you I heard a man’s voice in there, and Mabel called him dear. And then she said ‘Go to the dining-room, I will join you there.’ ”
“And you pretend to love this girl, and dare to make such foul accusations. If Miss Watson was talking to anyone, it is her own business, and I am sure she has her own reasons. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. As for my being here, if you want to know, I could not sleep, and I heard someone moving about the house. I am an investigator as you know, and apart from the question of burglars, I am convinced there is something happening in this house which requires investigating. So I came down and found you here.”
Sanders looked at him doubtfully.
“But I tell you, Mabel was talking with a man in her bedroom.”
“You make me sick with your insinuations. How do you know it was a man? A woman can imitate a man’s voice as a man can a woman’s.”
Sanders was in perplexity, and slowly put the revolver on the table. Without any sudden movement Collins picked it up. “Is this yours?” he asked casually.
“No,” said Sanders. “It belonged to Sir James. I found it here among his papers.”
“Sir James was very fond of pistols,” said the other, “he had one in London, too.”
“Yes,” said Sanders, “he was always afraid of being attacked.”
“I wonder you did not have one, too,” said Collins.