.

"I have already said so," Mrs. Eustace replied, scarcely above a
whisper.

"He left this room by the window."

The blood left her cheeks as she started. Harding saw her hands clasp
tightly.

"And you secured the window on the inside after he had gone."

"No!"

The monosyllable escaped her lips like the yap of a dog at bay.

"You secured the window on the inside after he had gone," Durham
repeated in cold, unruffled tones.

Mrs. Eustace sprang to her feet and faced him.

"It's a lie," she cried. "The room was empty when I came to it."

"The room was empty, quite so. And the window was open. You closed and
secured it."

"I tell you I did not."

"You have already said that you only stood at the kitchen door until you
went to the office to ask whether your husband was there. Now you say
the room was empty when you came to it. Which statement do you expect me
to believe?"

"I don't care what you believe," she cried. "You have no right to ask me
these questions. I will not answer you. Mr. Harding, I appeal to you. If
you have no regard for the honour of an absent friend, at least you
might protect the wife of your friend from insult."

Durham's eyes never wavered as he watched her.

"No insult is offered or intended, Mrs. Eustace," he said quietly. "Mr.
Harding, in the interests of the bank, as well as in the interests of
your husband, is desirous, as we all are, of knowing the truth. I will
ask you one more question: Where were you when Mrs. Burke left the
dining-room and crossed the passage to the front door?"

Mrs. Eustace, with close-set lips, stood defiantly silent.

"Will you answer that question?" Durham said.

"No, I will not. I will tolerate this no longer."

With a quick, angry gesture she turned to the door.

Durham was on his feet and in front of her before she could take two
steps.

"Until I have seen your servant, Mrs. Eustace, you will remain here," he
said. "Will you kindly come with me, Mr. Harding?"

He held the door open while Harding passed out, following him without
another word.

But there was little to be ascertained from Bessie more than she had
already told. She heard the door slam and her mistress go to the kitchen
door, but whether she went on to the dining-room or not, Bessie "didn't
notice."

"Could you see out of the window at the time?" Durham asked.

"No, sir, I was in the scullery washing up," the girl replied.

Mrs. Eustace, much to Harding's surprise, wa