夜雨聆风was sitting with Archie in his study,” said Mrs. Easterbrook, fixingwide innocent eyes on him. “We were listening to the wireless together,weren’t we, Archie?”
There was a pause. Colonel Easterbrook was very red in the face. Hetook his wife’s hand in his.
“You don’t understand these things, kitten,” he said. “I—well, I must say,Inspector, you’ve rather sprung this business on us. My wife, you know,has been terribly upset by all this. She’s nervous and highly strung anddoesn’t appreciate the importance of—of taking due consideration beforeshe makes a statement.”
“Archie,” cried Mrs. Easterbrook reproachfully, “are you going to sayyou weren’t with me?”
“Well, I wasn’t, was I, my dear? I mean one’s got to stick to the facts.
Very important in this sort of inquiry. I was talking to Lampson, thefarmer at Croft End, about some chicken netting. That was about a quarterto four. I didn’t get home until after the rain had stopped. Just before tea.
A quarter to five. Laura was toasting the scones.”
“And had you been out also, Mrs. Easterbrook?”
The pretty face looked more like a weasel’s than ever. Her eyes had atrapped look.
“No—no, I just sat listening to the wireless. I didn’t go out. Not then. I’dbeen out earlier. About—about half past three. Just for a little walk. Notfar.”
