At about three o’clock a ring had come at the door, and she had gone up to answer it. When she got to the top of the stairs, she saw that Sir James had already opened the door. A man came in and went straight to the library. She could not see anything of him, as Sir James was between them. She thought nothing of it, as it was probably an official from the Home Office. Sir James locked the door, and the two were together for about half an hour. She heard nothing, as the kitchen was not under the library.
Then there was a ring from the library. She was quite certain of that. She went up after a moment, as she had been writing a letter. When she got to the hall, Sir James was showing the visitor out, and she did not see him. Sir James stood on the steps and watched him go. As she was not wanted she went down again.
A little later Sir James came out from the library, and went across the road with a letter, which he put into the pillar-box. She waited for him, as she wished to ask about arrangements for the evening.
When he came back he told her he should be out to dinner, and that he was on no account to be disturbed.
He had then gone in and locked the door. She was certain of that—she had heard the key turn. After that she had been busy in the dining-room, and was quite certain that no one else had called. She had heard nothing until the two men had come. She had heard no sound of a shot.
She would certainly have heard one from where she was.
“Why was she so agitated when the door was opened?”
She was given to presentiments, and was feeling afraid of something after the strange man had called.
At the conclusion Collins asked her about the household. Were there any relations who came?
“No, sir,” she said, “though Sir James used to have regular house-parties at his country place. He lived very quietly in London.”