“And where did he go then?”

Superintendent Battle shrugged his burly shoulders and became evasive.

“Plenty of ways open. Into an empty room on the other side of the house and down the ivy again⁠—out through a side door⁠—or, just possibly, if it was an inside job, he⁠—well, stayed in the house.”

George looked at him in shocked surprise.

“Really, Battle, I should⁠—I should feel it very deeply if one of my servants⁠—er⁠—I have the most perfect reliance on them⁠—it would distress me very much to have to suspect⁠—”

“Nobody’s asking you to suspect anyone, Mr. Lomax. I’m just putting all the possibilities before you. The servants may be all right⁠—probably are.”

“You have disturbed me,” said George. “You have disturbed me greatly.”