There was a willing bruskness in his manner, an almost hearty readiness to do what was asked of him that seemed not quite genuine, adopted, perhaps, to hide the natural nervousness of a person in his position. Seated in an easy chair before the two men, Bassett back of them by the window noticed that his hands were restless, smoothing and pulling at his clothes, settling his tie. Despite his disquiet he assumed an attitude of expectant attention, gravely awaiting their will, his eyes glancing from one face to the other. He might readily have been a guilty man primed for attack, or an innocent one shaken by the untoward circumstances in which he found himself. Rawson’s manner was friendly and reassuring. They wanted to get all possible information on the movements of the company the evening before. Last night the examinations had been cursory and fuller ones were necessary. They would like to know just what he had done from the time he entered the house to change his clothes to the time when he had heard the shot. He answered promptly with businesslike directness. Went to his room, changed his clothes, laid on the bed resting for a while, then sat on the balcony reading the paper. While he was sitting there Miss Saunders must have passed the end of the balcony by the path that led to the Point. She must have, but he had not seen her, being occupied with his paper. Had he while in the house seen Miss Saunders or heard her voice? He had not. He had no idea she had come in. Had he seen his wife? “My wife? Yes, I saw her for a moment. In the hall when I came out of our room after dressing.” “Did she tell you she was going to take a walk round the island?” “Well, I hardly remember.” He tilted his head sidewise with an air of careful consideration. “Yes, I believe she did say something about it--it’s very vague in my mind. It made no impression on me. We exchanged a few words and parted.” “She said nothing to you about Miss Saunders being in the house?” “Why no, she didn’t know it. We didn’t mention Miss Saunders at all.” “But she was--she had been--a frequent subject of conversation between you?” His eyes, looking at Rawson, seemed to harden and grow more fixed: “We _had_ talked of her--naturally being in the same company.” “Your wife and Miss Saunders were not very friendly?” A fierce light rose in the fixed eyes, the nostrils widened. “What are you getting at, Mr. Rawson?” “Our business, Mr. Stokes. We’re here to investigate a murder and we can’t spare people’s feelings or shut our eyes to disagreeable facts.” “Have I shown any signs of expecting that? I’ve put myself at your disposal, my wife has. We’re ready to give you any help we can, but I’m not ready to back up any damned suspicions that have been put into your mind.” “We’re not asking you to,” said Rawson. “But we know what was going on here before the shooting.” Bassett spoke up: