MRS. ASTLEY-ROLFE
"Madam," said the inspector, placing a chair for her, "I need only
trouble you with one or two questions. You will understand that it is
necessary for me to account for each member of this party, so that I may
know which of them can, or cannot, assist me in my investigations."
She sat down with a weary movement. Her hands trembled slightly.
"It is very dreadful," she shuddered. "Such a frightful crime is
inconceivable. Who could have hated the poor girl so dreadfully?"
"That remains to be discovered," the inspector returned quietly. "I have
no doubt we shall succeed in clearing it up."
"I hope you will," she said fervently. "Please ask me any questions you
like."
The inspector kept his eyes fixed on his note-book.
"You went into the garden with the others after dinner?"
"Yes."
"Will you please tell me with whom, and in what part of the garden, you
passed the time before the crime was discovered?"
"I was alone," she said slowly.
"The whole time?"
"Yes. I was not feeling very well, and did not want the trouble of
talking. I walked away by myself."
"You know the way about the garden quite well?"
"Quite."
"In what direction did you walk?"
"To the croquet lawn."
"Did you see anything of the others?"
"No."
"Or hear any voices?"
"No."
"Nothing until the alarm was given?"
"Nothing. It was an isolated part of the garden. When I heard Mr.
Delamere shouting, I ran back to the house, and found them on the
lawn."
The inspector shot a keen glance at her.
"Did you know Miss Manderson well?"
"I had only met her three or four times."
"I suppose--being one of the most beautiful women on the American stage,
and about to appear for the first time in London--you heard her a good
deal talked about?"
"Yes." Her voice was just perceptibly harder. "People were taking great
interest in her."
"Did you hear her private affairs, and mode of life, discussed at any
time?"
"No."
"Or the name of James Layton, the millionaire philanthropist, mentioned
in conjunction with her's?"
"Never."
"Thank you, madam. I need not trouble you any further. Will you kindly
leave me your address, in case I should have to ask you for any more
information?"
He wrote the address down, and bowed her out.