That was Shaitana's little secret and to all intents and purposes it died with him.
Understand?"
"Perfectly," said Mrs. Oliver.
Battle strode to the door and called the constable who was on duty in the hall.
"Go to the little smoking-room.
You'll find Anderson there with the four guests.
Ask Doctor Roberts if he'll be so good as to step this way,"
"I should have kept him to the end," said Mrs. Oliver. "In a book I mean," she added apologetically.
"Real life's a bit different," said Battle.
"I know," said Mrs. Oliver. "Badly constructed."
Doctor Roberts entered with the springiness of his step slightly subdued.
"I say, Battle," he said. "This is the devil of a business!
Excuse me, Mrs. Oliver, but it is. Professionally speaking, I could hardly have believed it!
To stab a man with three other people a few yards away." He shook his head. "Whew!
I wouldn't like to have done it." A slight smile twitched up the corners of his mouth. "What can I say or do to convince you that I didn't do it?"
"Well, there's motive, Doctor Roberts."
The doctor nodded his head emphatically.
"That's all clear.
I hadn't the shadow of a motive for doing away with poor Shaitana.
I didn't even know him very well.
He amused me - he was such a fantastic fellow.
Touch of the Oriental about him.
Naturally you'll investigate my relations with him closely; I expect that. I'm not a fool.
But you won't find anything.
I'd no reason for killing Shaitana and I didn't kill him."
Superintendent Battle nodded woodenly.
"That's all right, Doctor Roberts.
I've got to investigate, as you know. You're a sensible man.
Now can you tell me anything about the other three people?"
"I'm afraid I don't know very much.
Despard and Miss Meredith I met for the first time tonight.
I knew of Despard before - read his travel book, and a jolly good yarn it is."
"Did you know that he and Mr. Shaitana were acquainted?"
"No. Shaitana never mentioned him to me.
As I say, I'd heard of him, but never met him.
Miss Meredith I've never seen before.
Mrs. Lorrimer I know slightly."
"What do you know about her?"
Roberts shrugged his shoulders.
"She's a widow.
Moderately well off.
Intelligent, well-bred woman - first class bridge player.
That's where I've met her as a matter of fact, playing bridge."
"And Mr. Shaitana never mentioned her either?"
"No."
"H'm - that doesn't help us much.
Now, Doctor Roberts, perhaps you'll be so kind as to tax your memory carefully and tell me how often you yourself left your seat at the bridge table and all you can remember about the movements of the others."
Doctor Roberts took a few minutes to think. "It's difficult," he said frankly, "I can remember my own movements more or less.
I got up three times - that is, on three occasions when I was dummy, I left my seat and made myself useful.
Once I went over and put wood on the fire.