“Oh, I—I don’t think I shall be needed, shall I?” Mrs. Plant asked apprehensively, paling slightly. “The inspector didn’t—he didn’t say anything about it.”
“Perhaps he didn’t know then that you were the last person,” said Roger carelessly, but watching her narrowly. “And afterwards he must have forgotten to warn you; or else he was intending to do so this afternoon. But they’re certain to need you, you know.”
It was very clear that this piece of news was highly unwelcome. Mrs. Plant’s hand was trembling in her lap, and she was biting her lip in an effort to retain her self-control.
“Do you really think so?” she asked, in a voice that she strove desperately to render unconcerned. “But I haven’t got anything of—of any importance to tell, you know.”
“Oh, no, of course not,” Roger said reassuringly. “It’s only a matter of form, you know. You’ll just have to repeat what you told the inspector this morning.”
“Will they—Are they likely to ask me any questions, Mr. Sheringham?” Mrs. Plant asked, with a little laugh.
“Oh, they may ask you one or two, perhaps. Nothing very dreadful.”
“I see. What sort of questions, would you imagine?”
“About Mr. Stanworth’s manner, probably. Whether he was cheerful, and all that. And of course they’ll want to know what he spoke to you about.”
“Oh, that was nothing,” Mrs. Plant replied quickly. “Just about—Oh, nothing of any importance whatever. Er—you will be giving evidence, too, won’t you, Mr. Sheringham?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
Only the white knuckles of her clenched hand gave any hint of Mrs. Plant’s feelings as she asked lightly enough, “And you’re not going to give me away over that absurd panic of mine about my jewels this morning, are you? You promised, didn’t you?”
“Of course not!” said Roger easily. “Wouldn’t dream of it!”
“Not even if they ask you?” Mrs. Plant persisted, with a nervous little laugh.
“How could they ask me?” Roger smiled. “Nobody knows anything about it except us three. Besides, I shouldn’t think of giving you away.”
“Nor you, Mr. Grierson?” she asked, turning to Alec.
Alec flushed slightly. “Naturally not,” he said awkwardly.
Mrs. Plant fumbled with the handkerchief in her hand and surreptitiously wiped her mouth.
“Thank you so much, both of you,” she said in a low voice.
Roger jumped suddenly to his feet.
“Hullo!” he exclaimed, putting an end to a difficult pause. “Isn’t that the inspector just going up to the front door? Let’s go in and watch the safe being opened, shall we?”
XI
Lady Stanworth Exchanges Glances
Leaving Alec to accompany Mrs. Plant to the house, Roger hurried on ahead with a muttered excuse. He was anxious not to miss a moment of the highly significant scene which was about to take place. As he reached the hall, Jefferson was in the act of greeting the perspiring inspector.
“I’m sorry you have had all this trouble, Inspector,” he was saying. “It’s too bad on a day like this.”
“It is a bit warm, sir,” the inspector admitted, mopping vigorously.
“I should have thought they might have provided you with a car or something. Hullo, Sheringham. Come to see the safe opened?”
“If the inspector has no objections,” Roger said.
“Me, sir? Not in the least. In fact, I think everybody concerned ought to be present. Not that I really expect to find anything particularly important, but you never know, do you?”
“Never,” said Roger gravely.
“Well, Lady Stanworth will be down in a minute, no doubt,” Jefferson remarked; “and then we can see to it. You had no difficulty in getting the combination, Inspector?”
“None at all, sir. It was only a question of ringing up the makers. Whew! It is hot!”
Roger had been watching Jefferson carefully. There was no doubt that, whatever his feelings about the opening of the safe had been in the morning, he was now quite unperturbed. Roger was more convinced than ever that something of the first importance must have occurred to effect this radical change.
A slow tread overhead caused him to look up. Lady Stanworth was descending the stairs.
“Ah, here is Lady Stanworth,” the inspector observed, with a slight bow.
Lady Stanworth inclined her head coldly. “You wish me to be present at this formality, Inspector?” she asked distantly.
The inspector looked slightly taken aback.
“Well, I think it would be better, my lady,” he replied, a trifle deprecatingly. “As the only surviving relative of the deceased’s, you know. But of course if you have any—”
“I was not a relative of Mr. Stanworth’s,” Lady Stanworth interrupted in the same tone. “I thought I had made that clear to you this morning. He was my brother-in-law.”
“Quite so, quite so,” said the inspector apologetically. “I should perhaps have said connection. It is usual for the nearest connection to be present when—”
“I ought to have warned you, perhaps, Lady Stanworth,” Jefferson put in evenly. “But, unfortunately, I have not seen you to do so since before lunch; and I did not care to take the responsibility of disturbing you. The opening of the safe is, after all, a mere formality; and both the inspector and myself have no doubt that nothing of any importance will be found. Nothing whatever.”
Lady Stanworth looked hard at the last speaker for a moment, and when she spoke again the former coldness of her tone had completely disappeared.
“Of course I will come if you think it better, Inspector,” she said graciously. “There is really no reason whatever why I should not do so.” And without more ado she led the way towards the library.
Roger brought up the rear of the little party. He was thinking furiously. He had watched the little exchange that had just taken place with feelings almost of bewilderment. It was so unlike Lady Stanworth to go out of her way to snub the poor inspector in that highly unnecessary manner. Why had she done so? And why had she been so very much on the high horse with regard to the opening of the safe? It seemed almost as if she had been really apprehensive
