I took the name to be either Ogden or Oliver.
I am acquainted with a Mrs. Oliver and also with a Miss Ogden.
I am quite certain that I have never met, or become friendly with, any one of the name of Owen."
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: "You have that letter, Miss Brent?"
"Yes, I will fetch it for you."
She went away and returned a minute later with the letter.
The judge read it. He said: "I begin to understand...
Miss Claythorne?"
Vera explained the circumstances of her secretarial engagement.
The judge said: "Marston?"
Anthony said: "Got a wire. From a pal of mine. Badger Berkeley.
Surprised me at the time because I had an idea the old horse had gone to Norway.
Told me to roll up here."
Again Wargrave nodded.
He said: "Dr. Armstrong?"
"I was called in professionally."
"I see.
You had no previous acquaintanceship with the family?"
"No.
A colleague of mine was mentioned in the letter."
The judge said: "To give verisimilitude...
Yes, and that colleague, I presume, was momentarily out of touch with you?"
"Well - er - yes."
Lombard, who had been staring at Blore, said suddenly: "Look here, I've just thought of something -" The judge lifted a hand.
"In a minute -"
"But I -"
"We will take one thing at a time, Mr. Lombard.
We are at present inquiring into the causes which have resulted in our being assembled here tonight.
General Macarthur?"
Pulling at his moustache, the General muttered:
"Got a letter - from this fellow Owen - mentioned some old pals of mine who were to be here - hoped I'd excuse informal invitation.
Haven't kept the letter. I'm afraid."
Wargrave said: "Mr. Lombard?"
Lombard's brain had been active. Was he to come out in the open, or not?
He made up his mind. "Same sort of thing," he said. "Invitation, mention of mutual friends - I fell for it all right.
I've torn up the letter."
Mr. Justice Wargrave turned his attention to Mr. Blore.
His forefinger stroked his upper lip and his voice was dangerously polite.
He said: "Just now we had a somewhat disturbing experience.
An apparently disembodied voice spoke to us all by name, uttering certain precise accusations against us.
We will deal with those accusations presently.
At the moment I am interested in a minor point Amongst the names recited was that of William Henry Blore.
But as far as we know there is no one named Blore amongst us.
The name of Davis was not mentioned.
What have you to say about that, Mr. Davis?"
Blore said sulkily: "Cat's out of the bag, it seems.
I suppose I'd better admit that my name isn't Davis."
"You are William Henry Blore?"
"That's right."
"I will add something," said Lombard.