Mr Coleman nodded.
All the facetiousness was knocked out of him.
He just looked young and frightened.
Without a word he jumped into the station wagon and drove off.
Mr Emmott said rather uncertainly, I suppose we ought to have a hunt round.
He raised his voice and called: Ibrahim!
Naam.
The house-boy came running. Mr Emmott spoke to him in Arabic.
A vigorous colloquy passed between them.
The boy seemed to be emphatically denying something.
At last Mr Emmott said in a perplexed voice, He says theres not been a soul here this afternoon.
No stranger of any kind.
I suppose the fellow must have slipped in without their seeing him.
Of course he did, said Mrs Mercado. He slunk in when the boys werent looking.
Yes, said Mr Emmott.
The slight uncertainty in his voice made me look at him inquiringly.
He turned and spoke to the little pot-boy, Abdullah, asking him a question.
The boy replied vehemently at length.
The puzzled frown on Mr Emmotts brow increased.
I dont understand it, he murmured under his breath. I dont understand it at all.
But he didnt tell me what he didnt understand.
Chapter 11.
An Odd Business
Im adhering as far as possible to telling only my personal part in the business. I pass over the events of the next two hours, the arrival of Captain Maitland and the police and Dr Reilly.
There was a good deal of general confusion, questioning, all the routine business, I suppose.
In my opinion we began to get down to brass tacks about five oclock when Dr Reilly asked me to come with him into the office.
He shut the door, sat down in Dr Leidners chair, motioned me to sit down opposite him, and said briskly: Now, then, nurse, lets get down to it.
Theres something damned odd here.
I settled my cuffs and looked at him inquiringly.
He drew out a notebook.
This is for my own satisfaction.
Now, what time was it exactly when Dr Leidner found his wifes body?
I should say it was almost exactly a quarter to three, I said.
And how do you know that?
Well, I looked at my watch when I got up.
It was twenty to three then.
Lets have a look at this watch of yours.
I slipped it off my wrist and held it out to him.
Right to the minute.
Excellent woman.
Good, thats that fixed.
Now, did you form any opinion as to how long shed been dead?
Oh, really, doctor, I said, I shouldnt like to say.
Dont be so professional.
I want to see if your estimate agrees with mine.
Well, I should say shed been dead at least an hour.
Quite so.
I examined the body at half-past four and Im inclined to put the time of death between 1.15 and 1.45.
Well say half-past one at a guess.
Thats near enough.