The White Room. Fergus Hume

But no policeman was to be seen. The inspector kept his officers on guard inside the villa, thinking, and very rightly, that the sight of a constable in the garden would provoke inquiry, and bring onlookers. Derrick wished the matter kept as quiet as possible until the arrival of Mr. Fane. The body of the unfortunate woman had been removed to one of the bedrooms, and a policeman watched at the door. Everything in the house was in the same order as it had been when entered by Mulligan, and Derrick himself took up his quarters in the White Room. Here he issued orders.

      "If a young lady calls to see me, let her in," he said; "but no one else is to be admitted."

      "Mr. Tracey, sir?" asked Mulligan, who was full of official pride.

      "Yes; certainly. I except him. But no one else, mind."

      "What about the wire to Mr. Fane, sir?"

      "I'll send it as soon as I get his address from the lady. Ah"--he nodded as a ring came to the door--"there she is."

      Laura entered the room, looking pale and discomposed, evidences of emotion of which Derrick took note. To be sure, it was natural that a girl of this tender age should be unstrung by the tragedy which had taken place, and Derrick scarcely expected to see her other than moved. But having regard to the crime, he was suspicious of all the Fane family. He admired Laura's fresh beauty, and placed a chair for her, apologising meanwhile for the disagreeable duty he had to perform.

      "But I am sure you will excuse me, Miss Mason," said the gallant Derrick. "I will ask as few questions as possible."

      "I really don't know what questions you can ask me," said Laura.

      "Oh, that is an easy matter, Miss Mason. However, we had better clear the ground, so that we may understand one another. It was Mr. Tracey who told me that you are the sister-in-law of Mr. Fane, and I requested him to bring you round. Is he below?"

      "No; I preferred to come myself. Mr. Tracey is of a very inquiring nature, and I don't want him to hear all I may have to tell you."

      Derrick shook his head. "I fear you will be obliged to let the whole of London hear, Miss Mason. There will be an inquest."

      "Must I appear at that?"

      "Certainly. You may be able to identify the woman."

      "I fear not, from the description Mr. Tracey gave of her."

      Derrick looked at her sharply as she said this. Her eyes met his fairly, and she did not flinch from his scrutiny. But her bosom rose and fell hurriedly, her cheeks flushed, she passed her tongue over her dry lips. All these things gave evidence of inward discomposure. Whether she knew anything, Derrick was not prepared to say. But if she did, he was sure it would be difficult to make her speak out. Laura was innocent and young, but in spite of her delicate appearance, she had a strong will. Derrick guessed as much from the way in which she tightened her lips. But he could not conceive that she could hold out against his examination. "Have you anything to conceal?" he asked abruptly and rashly.

      Laura coloured still more and glanced at him indignantly. "How can you speak to me like that?" she said; "do you suspect me?"

      "No. Certainly not. But the affair is strange, Miss Mason."

      "From the little I gathered from Mr. Tracey, it is," she assented.

      "Here is a house shut up," said Derrick, pursuing his own train of thought; "left without even a caretaker----"

      "There was no need for one to be left," interposed the girl. "My sister, Mrs. Fane, thinks that Troy is a safe suburb. There have been no burglaries hereabouts, so she merely asked the police to keep an eye on the house. Besides, she is away only for three weeks."

      "When do Mrs. Fane and family return?"

      "In six days."

      "You remained behind?"

      Laura bowed. "My sister and I are not on very good terms," she began, "and I thought it best to remain with my friend, Miss Baldwin, while the house was shut up. But you were saying something."

      "Merely that it is queer this woman--this stranger--if she is a stranger, should obtain admittance into the house while those who own it are away. She came on Saturday evening--at what time we are not as yet able to learn. No one saw her come. We do not know if she came alone or in the company of any one. But come she did, and entered the house. How did she get in?"