Before leaving the room, however, he wished to
know the names of any persons who were known to have been about the house
on the occasions of all three robberies.
"Just carry your mind back, Sir James," he said. "Begin with yourself, for
instance. Where were you at these times?"
"When Mrs. Heath lost her bracelet, I was in Tagley Wood all the
afternoon. When Mrs. Armitage was robbed, I believe I was somewhere about
the place most of the time she was out. Yesterday I was down at the farm."
Sir James' face broadened. "I don't know whether you call those suspicious
movements," he added, and laughed.
"Not at all; I only asked you so that, remembering your own movements, you
might the better recall those of the rest of the household. Was anybody,
to your knowledge--_anybody_, mind--in the house on all three occasions?"
"Well, you know, it's quite impossible to answer for all the servants.
You'll only get that by direct questioning--I can't possibly remember
things of that sort. As to the family and visitors--why, you don't suspect
any of them, do you?"
"I don't suspect a soul, Sir James," Hewitt answered, beaming genially,
"not a soul.
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