“I understand that there was a disagreement between them?”
“I believe so, sir. The colonel gave me orders that Mr. Redding was not to be admitted in future.”
“Did you overhear the quarrel at all?” asked Colonel Melchett bluntly.
“Colonel Protheroe, sir, had a very loud voice, especially when it was raised in anger. I was unable to help overhearing a few words here and there.”
“Enough to tell you the cause of the dispute?”
“I understood, sir, that it had to do with a portrait Mr. Redding had been painting—a portrait of Miss Lettice.”
Melchett grunted.
“Did you see Mr. Redding when he left?”
“Yes, sir, I let him out.”
“Did he seem angry?”
“No, sir; if I may say so, he seemed rather amused.”
“Ah! He didn’t come to the house yesterday?”
“No, sir.”
“Anyone else come?”
“Not yesterday, sir.”
“Well, the day before?”
“ Mr. Dennis Clement came in the afternoon. And Dr. Stone was here for some time. And there was a lady in the evening.”