Inspector¹ Battley nodded his head gravely.

 

"I suppose I ought not to tell you these things," he said. "But I understand you are a friend of Mr. Charlock's; in fact, so far as I know, you are the only friend he has. Of course, this may not be more than a mere² coincidence, but you might mention the matter to him, and no doubt an explanation will be forthcoming. I could not take any action at present."

 

"Of course you couldn't," Grey exclaimed, "especially in view of the evidence which I have already given you myself."

 

"That is exactly the point," Battley said eagerly. "According to what you say, you heard a cry of distress³ and hastened off at once in the direction of the sundial. There you found the unfortunate lady lying dead in the fountain. I suppose you are quite sure that it was her voice you heard?"

 

"Well, that's rather a large order," Grey said. "But, on the other hand, if it wasn't Mrs. Charlock, who could it have been? I am pretty sure that I am right, and that my evidence would convince any jury that Mr. Charlock had nothing to do with his wife's death."

 

"It is a good point," the inspector said. "Still, the lady was in the house before you came, beyond all doubt. It would be a good thing if we could ascertain⁴ what brought her here. I hope you will recognise that I am doing my best to help Mr. Charlock."

 

"Oh, I quite see that. And as to Mrs. Charlock's presence here before I came, that can be easily explained. There is no secret in the fact that Mr. Charlock and his wife were on exceedingly bad terms, owing to the wife's extravagance. So far as I can gather, she did not seem to have the least idea of the value of money. She spent all she could get in reckless fashion, and she did not hesitate to pledge Charlock's credit to the utmost capacity. Rightly or wrongly, she became possessed⁵ of the idea that he was merely a money-making machine, a kind of slave to minister to her wants. Charlock is a

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