“But if he went out as early as that, you would surely wonder why he did not return?” observed the detective.
“Ah, no,” she said quickly. “I was in ignorance of his absence until—until my maid awoke me at a quarter-past five this morning, and told me of the awful discovery.”
She pursed her lips very slightly. That almost imperceptible movement aroused my suspicions. I had been told that she was on bad terms with the dead man, and probably that had prejudiced me against her.
“Then he went out without your knowledge? Will you kindly tell me how you spent the evening?!”
“How I spent the evening?” she asked with a slight start.
“I mean how you all spent the evening,” he said, correcting himself. “You had guests here, I understand.”
“Yes; we had quite a number of people. And after dinner, as usual, the men played billiards and smoked, while we women remained in the drawing-room. About half-past nine the men joined us, a couple of dances were played, some songs were sung, and the evening passed without further event, as far as I am aware.”
“But your husband?”
“Well, about half-past ten he came to me and said that he was not feeling very well, therefore he should go to his room.”
“And you never again saw him alive?”