"Now, as to the facts. We know that Edouard has a secret stairway
which led directly to his suite. Actually, the secret was poorly kept.
There were many women--common and noble--who knew of the existence of
that stairway and knew how to enter it. If Edouard left the lower door
unlocked, anyone could come up that stairway. He has another lock in
the door of his bedroom, so only someone who was invited could come
in, even if she ... or he ... could get into the stairway. He was
protected.

"Now here is what actually happened that night. I have evidence, by
the way, and I have the confessions of both Laird and Lady Duncan. I
will explain how I got those confessions in a moment.

"_Primus_: Lady Duncan had an assignation with Count D'Evreux last
night. She went up the stairway to his room. She was carrying with her
a small pistol. She had had an affair with Edouard, and she had been
rebuffed. She was furious. But she went to his room.

"He was drunk when she arrived--in one of the nasty moods with which
both of you are familiar. She pleaded with him to accept her again as
his mistress. He refused. According to Lady Duncan, he said: 'I don't
want you! You're not fit to be in the same room with _her_!'

"The emphasis is Lady Duncan's, not my own.

"Furious, she drew a gun--the little pistol which killed him."

The Countess gasped. "But Mary _couldn't_ have--"

"_Please!_" Lord Darcy slammed the palm of his hand on the arm of his
chair with an explosive sound. "My lady, you _will_ listen to what I
have to say!"

He was taking a devil of a chance, he knew. The Countess was his
hostess and had every right to exercise her prerogatives. But Lord
Darcy was counting on the fact that she had been under Count
D'Evreux's influence so long that it would take her a little time to
realize that she no longer had to knuckle under to the will of a man
who shouted at her. He was right. She became silent.

Father Bright turned to her quickly and said: "Please, my daughter.
Wait."

"Your pardon, my lady," Lord Darcy continued smoothly. "I was about to
explain to you why I know Lady Duncan could not have killed your
brother. There is the matter of the dress. We are certain that the
gown that was found in Edouard's closet was worn by the killer. _And
that gown could not possibly have fit Lady Duncan!_ She's much too ...
er ... hefty.

"She has told me her story, and, for reasons I will give you later, I
believe it. When she pointed