"You did!" and Bannard laughed shortly, "well, as it happens I don't own a motor car!"
"Nonsense, Roger," said Hughes, "Win Bannard wasn't up here Sunday noon--where would he have been concealed until three o'clock----"
"Take that back!" shouted Bannard, "do you know what you're saying?"
"Hush up, both of you," cautioned Hughes. "For Heaven's sake don't get up a scene over nothing! But, if you saw a small motor car along the road near here, I want to know about it. What time was this, Downing?"
"'Long about noon, I tell you," was the sulky reply. "It might have been a few minutes before. There was no one in the car; it was drawn up by the side of the road, not more'n two hundred yards from the house."
"And you thought you saw Mr. Bannard. Of course, it was someone else, but it's important to know about this. I can't help thinking whoever committed that murder was hidden in the room for some time beforehand----"
"And how did he get away?" asked Bannard.
"If you ask me that once more, I'll pound you! I don't _know_ how he got away. But he did get away, and we'll find out how, when we find our man. That's my theory of procedure, if you want to know; let the mystery of the locked room wait, and devote all possible effort to finding the murderer. Then the rest will unravel itself."
"Easier said than done," sneered Downing, "if you're going to discard all evidence or statements that anyone makes to you!"
"If you were so sure you saw Mr. Bannard on Sunday morning, why didn't you so state at the inquest?"
"I wasn't asked, and besides 'twas about noon, and old Timken only asked about the afternoon----"
"And besides," broke in Bannard, "you weren't sure you did see me, and you weren't sure you saw anybody, and you made up this whole yarn, anyhow!"
"Nothing of the sort, and you'll find out, Win Bannard, when I tell all I know----"
"Quit it now," ordered Hughes; "if you've anything to tell of real importance, Roger, tell it to me when we're alone. Don't sing out your information all over the place."
"You're going straight ahead with your investigations, then?" Bannard asked of the detective.
"Yes, but we can't do much till after the funeral, and----"
"And after the reading of the will. You know motive is a strong factor in unraveling a murder case. Why, s'pose some of the servants receive large legacies; and you know how queer Mrs. Pell was--she might well leave a fortune to those Purdys."