He bore her scrutiny without blenching or even changing colour.

'Easily enough,' he said, calmly, 'I went the other direction
instead of the usual way, as it was the shortest route to the place
I was stopping at.'

'The "Wattle Tree", ye ken, Madame,' interposed McIntosh.

'I had something to eat there,' pursued Vandeloup, 'and then went to
the theatre. Your husband came in towards the end of the performance
and sat next to me.'

'Was he all right?' asked Mrs Villiers, eagerly.

Vandeloup shrugged his shoulders.

'I didn't pay much attention to him,' he said, coolly; 'he seemed to
enjoy the play, and afterwards, when we went to supper with the
actors, he certainly ate very heartily for a dead man. I don't think
you need trouble yourself, Madame; your husband is quite well.'

'What time did you leave him?' she asked, after a pause.

'About twenty minutes to twelve, I think,' replied Vandeloup, 'at
least, I reached the "Wattle Tree" at about twelve o'clock, and I
think it did take twenty minutes to walk there. Monsieur Villiers
stopped behind with the theatre people to enjoy himself.'

Enjoying himself, and she, thinking him dead, was crying over his
miserable end; it was infamous! Was this man a monster who could