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did you meet him?”
    â€œAt a hotel in Egypt—the Winter Palace at Luxor, I think.”
    â€œWhat did you think of him?”
    Mrs. Lorrimer shrugged her shoulders slightly.
    â€œI thought him—I may as well say so—rather a charlatan.”
    â€œYou had—excuse me for asking—no motive for wishing him out of the way?”
    Mrs. Lorrimer looked slightly amused.
    â€œReally, Superintendent Battle, do you think I should admit it if I had?”
    â€œYou might,” said Battle. “A really intelligent person might know that a thing was bound to come out.”
    Mrs. Lorrimer inclined her head thoughtfully.
    â€œThere is that, of course. No, Superintendent Battle, I had no motive for wishing Mr. Shaitana out of the way. It is really a matter of indifference to me whether he is alive or dead. I thought him a poseur, and rather theatrical, and sometimes he irritated me. That is—or rather was—my attitude towards him.”
    â€œThat is that, then. Now, Mrs. Lorrimer, can you tell me anything about your three companions?”
    â€œI’m afraid not. Major Despard and Miss Meredith I met for the first time tonight. Both of them seem charming people. Dr. Roberts I know slightly. He’s a very popular doctor, I believe.”
    â€œHe is not your own doctor?”
    â€œOh, no.”
    â€œNow, Mrs. Lorrimer, can you tell me how often you got up from your seat tonight, and will you also describe the movements of the other three?”
    Mrs. Lorrimer did not take any time to think.
    â€œI thought you would probably ask me that. I have been trying to think it out. I got up once myself when I was dummy. I wentover to the fire. Mr. Shaitana was alive then. I mentioned to him how nice it was to see a wood fire.”
    â€œAnd he answered?”
    â€œThat he hated radiators.”
    â€œDid anyone overhear your conversation?”
    â€œI don’t think so. I lowered my voice, not to interrupt the players.” She added dryly: “In fact, you have only my word for it that Mr. Shaitana was alive and spoke to me.”
    Superintendent Battle made no protest. He went on with his quiet methodical questioning.
    â€œWhat time was that?”
    â€œI should think we had been playing a little over an hour.”
    â€œWhat about the others?”
    â€œDr. Roberts got me a drink. He also got himself one—that was later. Major Despard also went to get a drink—at about 11:15, I should say.”
    â€œOnly once?”
    â€œNo—twice, I think. The men moved about a fair amount—but I didn’t notice what they did. Miss Meredith left her seat once only, I think. She went round to look at her partner’s hand.”
    â€œBut she remained near the bridge table?”
    â€œI couldn’t say at all. She may have moved away.”
    Battle nodded.
    â€œIt’s all very vague,” he grumbled.
    â€œI am sorry.”
    Once again Battle did his conjuring trick and produced the long delicate stiletto.
    â€œWill you look at this, Mrs. Lorrimer?”
    Mrs. Lorrimer took it without emotion.
    â€œHave you ever seen that before?”
    â€œNever.”
    â€œYet it was lying on a table in the drawing room.”
    â€œI didn’t notice it.”
    â€œYou realize, perhaps, Mrs. Lorrimer, that with a weapon like that a woman could do the trick just as easily as a man.”
    â€œI suppose she could,” said Mrs. Lorrimer quietly.
    She leaned forward and handed the dainty little thing back to him.
    â€œBut all the same,” said Superintendent Battle, “the woman would have to be pretty desperate. It was a long chance to take.”
    He waited a minute, but Mrs. Lorrimer did not speak.
    â€œDo you know anything of the relations between the other three and Mr. Shaitana?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œNothing at all.”
    â€œWould you care to give me an opinion as to which of them you consider the most likely