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face.
    â€œThis is the first time I have cross-examined anyone sitting on my lap.”
    â€œI should hope that you have neither cross-examined nor done anything else,” I retorted.
    â€œSit up, Maggie. It is a disadvantage not being able to see the witness’s face.”
    â€œNo fear. I’m comfortable as I am. What do you want to know?”
    â€œThis is not the way to conduct an inquiry,” said John resignedly. “Just tell me how you came to be with Cruikshank, how and where you left him and at what time. As accurately as you can.”
    â€œYou know how. He took me up to the Hall to see Mr Holland.”
    â€œOf course I know, but Sergeant Billings doesn’t. You’d better pretend I’m him.”
    This struck me as funny.
    â€œIf you start giggling, Maggie, I’ll push you off and make you sit opposite to me in proper questioning style.”
    I related all I did that afternoon with the estate agent and how I had left him alone with Mr Holland in the latter’s study while Ursula Mulqueen took me over to the Dower.
    â€œJust a minute,” John interrupted. “Why didn’t Cruikshank go with you? Isn’t it customary for the agent to accompany the prospective tenant over a house?”
    â€œHe stopped to speak to Mr Holland.”
    â€œDid he stay of his own accord or was it at Mr Holland’s request?”
    â€œMr Holland’s, I fancy. He said something about wanting to have a word with him.”
    â€œHow did Holland sound?”
    I thought for a minute. “Curt. He seemed annoyed Cruikshank had not answered an earlier summons.”
    â€œWhat time was this?”
    â€œHalf-past four-ish. I noticed a tea tray on Mr Holland’s desk. I must have been the best part of an hour with Ursula by the time we walked through the wood, looked at the house and returned. I remember catching a train from Middleburn about a quarter to six.”
    â€œAbout four-thirty,” John nodded in approval. “And Cruikshank wasn’t there when you got back?”
    â€œNo. Mr Holland was alone in the study. We met Ursula’s mother in the passage. She took me along.”
    â€œDid Mr Holland make any comment about Cruikshank?”
    Again I gave John’s question some thought.
    â€œI can’t quite remember. I did ask if I should get in touch with Cruikshank to tell him about taking the house, but the Squire said: ‘No. I’ll fix it up with him; just see my solicitors.’ I think that was all.”
    â€œCruikshank didn’t say where he was going after he left the Hall? Not waiting to see you was odd.”
    â€œSo I thought at the time. Evidently the business was not to go through the agent at all. We pay a monthly cheque to Braithwaite, don’t we?”
    â€œVery odd,” John said again, frowning. “I wonder why Holland took it out of the agent’s hands.”
    â€œPerhaps things are getting tight and he can’t afford a shilling in the pound to an agent,” I suggested.
    â€œYou can guarantee Braithwaite doesn’t do it for nothing. No, there’s something unusual there. Who else was in the house when you left Cruikshank and Holland together?”
    â€œYvonne was. I presume Mrs Mulqueen was too. She came down from upstairs as Ursula and I came in. I don’t know the domestic arrangements of the Hall, but I suppose someone was in the kitchen. There was going to be a dinner party that night.”
    â€œI’ll suggest to Sergeant Billings to check up on them. What was your impression of Cruikshank when you left him? Was he frightened or ill-at-ease?”
    I sat up with a jolt. “You’re not thinking Mr Holland killed him and buried him in the cellar, are you?”
    â€œDon’t be silly,” John said severely. “These are routine questions. You always ask how the vanished seemed when seen last. He might have lost his memory or something.”
    I sank