Trent’s Last Case. John Curran

no interest to me. I was only in the room just time enough to place the syphon on the table and withdraw. As I closed the door he was saying, “You’re sure he isn’t in the hotel?” or words to that effect.’

      ‘And that was the last you saw and heard of him alive?’

      ‘No, sir. A little later, at half-past eleven, when I had settled down in my pantry with the door ajar, and a book to pass the time, I heard Mr Manderson go upstairs to bed. I immediately went to close the library window, and slipped the lock of the front door. I did not hear anything more.’

      Trent considered. ‘I suppose you didn’t doze at all,’ he said tentatively, ‘while you were sitting up waiting for the telephone message?’

      ‘Oh no, sir. I am always very wakeful about that time. I’m a bad sleeper, especially in the neighbourhood of the sea, and I generally read in bed until somewhere about midnight.’

      ‘And did any message come?’

      ‘No, sir.’