'After dinner, sir?--yes. I remember that after dinner Mr. Manderson and Mr.
Marlowe walked up and down the path through the orchard, talking. If you ask
me for details, it struck me they were talking about something important,
because I heard Mr. Manderson say something when they came in through the back
entrance. He said, as near as I can remember, "If Harris is there, every
minute is of importance. You want to start right away. And not a word to a
soul." Mr. Marlowe answered, "Very well. I will just change out of these
clothes and then I am ready"--or words to that effect. I heard this plainly as
they passed the window of my pantry. Then Mr. Marlowe went up to his bedroom,
and Mr. Manderson entered the library and rang for me. He handed me some
letters for the postman in the morning and directed me to sit up, as Mr.
Marlowe had persuaded him to go for a drive in the car by moonlight.'

'That was curious,' remarked Trent.

'I thought so, sir. But I recollected what I had heard about "not a word to a
soul", and I concluded that this about a moonlight drive was intended to
mislead.'

'What time was this?'

'It would be about ten, sir, I should say. After speaking to me, Mr. Manderson
waited until Mr. Marlowe had come down and brought round the car. He then went
into the drawing-room, where Mrs. Manderson was.'

'Did that strike you as curious?'

Martin looked down his nose. 'If you ask me the question, sir,' he said with
reserve, 'I had not known him enter that room since we came here this year. He