“Where have they taken him?”
“To the hospital.”
“Please ring for my maid and leave the room. I must go to him immediately.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Will you please leave this room?”
“You don’t seem to realize, Mrs. Endicott, that you are under arrest.”
The thought stunned her. Her head fell back among the pillows as if it had been thrown there.
“But that’s silly—silly, I tell you.”
“You admitted yourself, Mrs. Endicott, that the truth is always silly.”
“You are actually charging me with the murder of my husband?”
“ ‘Arrest’ was perhaps an injudicious word. I am holding you, Mrs. Endicott, as a material witness, for the present.”
Mrs. Endicott had recovered somewhat from the shock.
“I shan’t be bromidic, Lieutenant, and attempt either tears or bribery. I’m not stupid enough to think that either would affect you in the slightest from the performance of duty. But I should like to appeal to your reason.”
“You will find me a sympathetic listener, Mrs. Endicott. My wretched conceit forces me to add that I shall also be an intelligent one.”
“You see, I knew pretty well what was going on from hearing the nurse and Roberts talking about it. Lieutenant, just what do you want me to