"That's just it. That's why I think we shall soon spot him."
"The ordinary type of Frenchman. He is about twenty-eight years old, medium height, and inclined to be stout. He has dark hair, a little thin at the temples, dark moustache, and dark eyes. His features are nondescript."
"On the night of the murder you say they returned to the hotel at about midnight?"
"Was their behaviour in any way noticeable?"
"The porter was so sleepy that he can't remember much about it. He had an impression that they came in arm in arm and went quietly upstairs."
"But what do you think they had done with Lady Wilmersley?"
"But, my lord, you didn't expect that they would bring her to the hotel, did you? If they were her friends, their first care would be for her safety. If they were not--well, we will have to look for another victim, that is all."
"You think that there is that possibility?" inquired Cyril eagerly.
"I do, my lord." The Inspector rose ponderously to his feet. "I mustn't keep you any longer." He hesitated a moment, eyeing Cyril doubtfully. There was evidently still something he wished to say.
Cyril had also risen to his feet and stood leaning against the mantelpiece, idly wondering at the man's embarrassment.
"I trust her Ladyship has quite recovered?" the Inspector finally blurted out.
Cyril felt the muscles of his face stiffen. He had for days been dreading some such question, yet now that it had finally come, it had found him completely unprepared. He must parry it if he could. He must fight for her till the last ditch.
But how devilishly clever of Griggs to have deferred his attack until he was able to catch his adversary off his guard! Cyril looked keenly but, he hoped, calmly at the Inspector. Their eyes met, but without the clash which Cyril had expected. The man's expression, although searching, was not hostile; in fact, there was something almost apologetic about his whole attitude. Griggs was not sure of his ground, that much was obvious. He knew something, he probably suspected more, but there was still a chance that he might be led away from the trail.
Cyril's mind worked with feverish rapidity. He realised that it was imperative that his manner should appear perfectly natural. But how would an innocent man behave? He must first decide what his position, viewed from Griggs's standpoint, really was. He must have a definite conception of his part before he attempted to act it.