Leroux get on
for money?"
"I have opened a credit for her," explained the novelist, wearily, "at
the Credit Lyonnais, in Paris."
Dunbar scribbled busily in his notebook.
"Does she take her maid with her?" he jerked, suddenly.
"She has no maid at the moment," replied Leroux; "she has been without
one for twelve months or more, now."
"When did you last hear from her?"
"Three days ago."
"Did you answer the letter?"
"Yes; my answer was amongst the mail which Soames took to the post,
to-night."
"You said, though, if I remember rightly, that he was out without
permission?"
Leroux ran his fingers through his hair.
"I meant that he should only have been absent five minutes or so; whilst
he remained out for more than an hour."
Inspector Dunbar nodded, comprehendingly, tapping his teeth with the
head of the fountain-pen.
"And the other servants?"
"There are only two: a cook and a maid. I released them for the
evening--glad to get rid of them--wanted to work."
"They are late?"
"They take liberties, damnable liberties, because I am easy-going."
"I see," said Dunbar. "So that you were quite alone this evening,
when"--he nodded in the direction of the writing-table--"your visitor
came?"
"Quite alone."
"Was her arrival the first interruption?"
"No--er--not exactly.
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