ladylike woman is concerned. I have never spoken to her, but have met
her at odd times on the stairs. I was immeasurably shocked, I assure
you. In fact, I was on the point of telegraphing an excuse to you for
this evening, but the Chief Inspector-- Winter, I think his name is--
said it would suffice for his purpose if I met him at my flat about
eleven o'clock, as he was engaged on other inquiries which would
occupy the intervening hours."

"But if the news of this dastardly crime only reached you tonight at
Waterloo Station, and you have no personal acquaintance with Mrs.
Lester, what evidence can you give that will assist the police?"

"Mrs. Lester received a visitor last night, an incident so unusual
that I, who heard him arrive, and Bates, who was in my sitting room
when we both heard him depart, commented on the strangeness of it.
That, I suppose, is the reason why I am in request by Scotland Yard."

"You say 'him.' How did you know it was a man? Did you see him?"

"Er-- that was impossible. We were in my flat, behind its closed door.
Bates and I deduced his sex from the sound of his footsteps."

Again Theydon nearly stammered. Events had certainly turned in the
most amazing way. Instead of carrying himself almost in the manner of
a judge, he was figuring rather as an unwilling witness in the hands
of a skilled and merciless cross-examining counsel.

"Did the police officers supply any theory of motive for the crime?
Was this poor woman killed for the sake of her few trinkets?"