Then we rush back, that we may miss no more.” He paused. “Before I again recline in sitting posture, noise in hallway offend me. I hurry out there in shushing mood, and behold -“

“Ah - er - the pictures were marvelous,” said Carrick Enderby. “I enjoyed them immensely. True enough, I stepped out on the stairs for a cigarette -“

“Carry, you fool,” his wife cried. “You would do that.”

“But I say - why not? I saw nothing. There was nothing to see. The floor below was quite deserted.” He turned to Miss Morrow. “Whoever did this horrible thing left by way of the fire-escape. You’ve already learned that -“

“Ah, yes,” cut in Chan. “We have learned it indeed - from your wife.” He glanced at Miss Morrow and their eyes met.

“From my wife - yes,” repeated Enderby. “Look here - what do you mean by that? I -“

“No matter,” put in Miss Morrow. “Colonel Beetham - you were occupied at the picture machine. Except for one interval of about ten minutes, when you allowed it to run itself.”

“Ah, yes,” said the Colonel evenly. “I did not leave the room, Miss Morrow.”

Eileen Enderby rose. “Mr. Kirk - we really must be going. Your dinner was charming - how terrible to have it end in such a tragic way. I -“

“Just a moment,” said June Morrow. “I can not let you go until the captain of police releases you.”

“What’s that?” the woman cried. “Outrageous. You mean we are prisoners here -“

“Oh - but, Eileen -” protested her husband.

“I’m very sorry,” said the girl. “I shall protect you as much as possible from the annoyance of further questioning. But you really must wait.”

Mrs. Enderby flung angrily away, and a filmy scarf she was wearing dropped from one shoulder and trailed after her. Chan reached out to rescue it. The woman took another step, and he stood with the scarf in his hand. She swung about. The detective’s little eyes, she noticed, were fixed with keen interest on the front of her pale blue gown, and following his gaze, she looked down.

“So sorry,” said Chan. “So very sorry.