“Was there any answer?”
“Only a horrible sort of groan, so I says to him, ‘you’d better get out of this, quick. The master’s got a loaded revolver in there.’ I don’t know what made me say that, but I wanted to get rid of him.”
“What did he say?”
“He says, ‘so have I, if it comes to that.’ But he turned and went out without another word. Oh, sir, I hope I haven’t done wrong in telling you.”
“Don’t get excited, you have done quite right, but you must not tell anyone else, mind that.”
“I will, sir, and I am sure that he had nothing to do with it, sir. That’s why I said nothing about it.”
“Now, one more question, and I have done. Think carefully before you answer. Was it Sir James who answered from the room?”
All the colour fled from her face, and she seemed on the verge of a collapse.
“Oh, sir, I don’t know. I have thought of nothing else since this terrible affair. I don’t believe it was. It was like him, but muffled and sort of mumbling.” She was shivering now, and on the verge of breaking down. Collins drew a flask from his pocket and took out the stopper.
“Drink this. It will do you good. I have finished now.”