“Then you know that at night those three bedrooms are shut off from the rest of the house by strong bolts on the inside of the doors.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then, don’t you see, as Mr. Embury was killed—­the doctors say about daybreak, or earlier—­nobody could have done it except somebody who was behind those locked doors.”

“The windows?”

“Tenth story, and no balconies.  And, too, they all have flower-boxes, except one, and the flowers were undisturbed.  The one that hasn’t a flower-box is on the side street, in Miss Ames’ room.  And that—­I looked out myself—­has no balcony, nor even abroad ledge.  It couldn’t be reached from the next apartment—­if that’s what you’re thinking of.”

“I’m not thinking of anything,” returned Fifi.  “I’m too dazed to think!  Eunice Embury!  Do you mean she is really suspected?”

“I mean that, very decidedly, ma’am.  And I am here to ask you if you can give any additional evidence, any—­”

“Any evidence!  Evidence against my dear friend!  Why, man, if I knew anything, I wouldn’t tell it, if it would go against Eunice!”

“Oh, yes, you would; the law would force you to.  But do you know anything definite?”

“No, of course, I don’t!  I know that Mr. and Mrs. Embury were not always cooing like turtle-doves!  She had the devil’s own temper—­and he wasn’t much better!  I know he drove her frantic because he wouldn’t give her some privileges she wanted—­wouldn’t allow her certain latitudes, and was generally pretty dictatorial.  I know Eunice resented this, and I know that lots of times she was pretty nearly at the end of her rope, and she said all sorts of things—­that, of course, she didn’t mean—­but she wouldn’t kill him!  Oh, I don’t think she would do that!”

“H’m!  So they lived like cats and dogs, did they?”

“What an awful way to put it!  But, well, Sanford didn’t make Eunice’s life a bed of roses—­nor did she go out of her way to please him!”

“Mr. Embury was often a guest here?”

“He was not!  Eunice came here, against his will—­against his expressed commands.”

“Oho!  She did!  And her visit here night before last—­that was an act of insubordination?”

“It was!  I wouldn’t tell this—­but it’s sure to come out.  Yes, he had especially and positively forbidden her to come to that party here, and after he went to his club—­Eunice ran away from home and came.  Naughty girl!  She told us she had played hookey, when she first came in!  But, good gracious, Mr. Shane, that was no crime!  In this day and generation a wife may disobey her husband—­and get away with it!”

The arch little face smiled saucily, and Fifi cuddled into her corner, and again fell a-thinking.

“I can’t believe you really mean you think Eunice did it!” she broke out.  “Why, what are you going to do?  Arrest her?”

“Not quite.  Although she is under strict surveillance at present.”