Anthony ranged himself with the Colonel. “I quite agree with you, sir. Half-a-dozen people might have been in the library with Mr. Stewart between ten and eleven o’clock that night—there is no evidence to the contrary—that’s certain. But this interview that you mention, Colonel! Are you convinced that it was to be on the subject that had caused Mr. Stewart such displeasure? That seems to me to matter a great deal.” “I can’t be certain with regard to that,” was the Colonel’s reply. “Mr. Stewart didn’t tell me so exactly—but I think that I should be perfectly justified in assuming so—coming as it did after what he had just previously told me.” Goodall took a hand again. “Coming back to the details of your own visit, Colonel—I’m sure you won’t mind answering a few more questions. How did you travel over to Assynton Lodge on that particular evening?” The Colonel’s reply came quickly with a touch of annoyance in his voice. “By car, of course, my own car. What’s your point in asking a question like that?” Goodall affected not to hear the question—he made no immediate answer. “So that I presume,” he continued, “that you were home here by ten-fifteen easily?” “I should imagine that would be about the time,” said Colonel Leach-Fletcher testily, “though what the blazes all this has to do with the affair——” Goodall intervened again. “In that quarter of an hour’s journey—did you pass anybody or notice anybody on the road?” “I did not,” snapped the Colonel. “It was a perfectly glorious night, and if I had passed anybody, I probably shouldn’t have seen them—my attention is always too much taken up in driving my car.” Anthony flashed him a cordial smile. “Fond of motoring, Colonel?” “I am that. It’s one of my hobbies—the roads are pretty good down this way, and I go for some fast spins.” Anthony rubbed his hands. “You’re another like myself,” he chuckled. “What’s your car?” “A Bentley—latest model,” said the Colonel—“real beauty—I can knock an easy seventy-five out of her.” “I don’t think I’ve seen the latest model,” said Anthony reflectively, “I don’t fancy——” The Colonel broke in on his musings enthusiastically. “Come out to the garage then and have a look at mine. It won’t take a moment.” They followed the Colonel, who explained the car’s fine points with the eagerness of a schoolboy. Goodall looked at his watch. “Good-bye, Colonel,” he said, “I must be going! Many thanks for your kindness. You know where I’m off to, Mr. Bathurst—don’t quite know when I shall be back—if you want me, ’phone ‘the Yard.’” The Colonel’s eyes followed his retreating figure for some distance. “We must be going too, Colonel,” exclaimed Anthony, “but there’s one little point before I go. That last evening you spent with Mr. Stewart—did he refer to any book while you were there—was he reading any book at any time during the evening? Try to remember if you possibly can!”