“I understand that perfectly, Count. Let me go back a little. There are certain suspicious circumstances that recur to me.”
Beilski and the Count exchanged significant glances. Golitzine motioned the young man to proceed.
“I was engaged to play at the Zouroff Palace last night. I had already acquainted your Excellency with that fact.”
The Count nodded a little impatiently. He was anxious to get at the facts.
“A very singular thought has occurred to me, gentlemen. Madame Quéro was very insistent that I should not play at the Zouroff Palace. On two occasions she endeavoured strongly to dissuade me, to make me break my appointment.”
The other two men exchanged an even more significant glance. They were getting close to the truth.
Nello had paused. He seemed desirous to say more, but something kept him back. Golitzine noticed his hesitation.
“Come, Signor Corsini, out with it. You have not yet told us all you surmise or suspect. We know about La Belle Quéro. There is something else you can tell us if you choose.”
Corsini was never a very good dissembler. He was as wax in the hands of these experienced men of the world.
“A singular thing, gentlemen, after thinking over all those things, is this. Perhaps you know that it is a peculiarity of mine to always walk to and from my engagements.”