Marsham?"
"No one," the manager declared.
"Who discovered her?"
"The maid."
Lenora rose to her feet. She seemed a little calmer but the healthy colour
had all gone from her cheeks and her lips were twitching.
"Her ladyship had just come in from the Opera," she said. "She was sitting
in her easy-chair. I was in the bedroom. She looked toward the handle of
that door. She thought it moved. She called me. I tried it and found it
fast locked. She sent for Mr. Macdougal."
"Macdougal," Mr. Marsham explained, "is a confidential servant of Lord
Ashleigh's. He was sent over here with Lady Ella."
The Inspector nodded.
"Go on."
"I found Mr. Macdougal's door locked. He must have gone out. When I came
back here, I found this!"
The Inspector made a careful examination of the room.
"Tell me," he enquired, "is this the young lady who owned the wonderful
Ashleigh diamonds?"
"They've gone!" Lenora shrieked. "They've been stolen! She was wearing
them when I left the room!"
The Inspector turned to the telephone.
"Mr. Marsham," he said, "I am afraid this will be a difficult affair. I am
going to take the liberty of calling in an expert. Hello. I want Number
One, New York City--Mr. Sanford Quest."
4.
There seemed to be nothing at all original in the methods pursued by the
great criminologist when confronted with this tableau of death and
robbery. His remarks to the Inspector were few and perfunctory. He asked
only a few languid questions of Macdougal and Lenora, who were summoned to
his presence.
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