"I am," said I. "Are you the inspector?"

"Inspector Dalzell," he explained with a bow, which included my
uncle.

Then he closed the door.

"I hope I have not frightened you," he went on, approaching me
with a gentlemanly air. "A little matter has come up concerning
which I mean to be perfectly frank with you. It may prove to be
of trivial importance; if so, you will pardon my disturbing you.
Mr. Durand--you know him?"

"I am engaged to him," I declared before poor uncle could raise
his hand.

"You are engaged to him. Well, that makes it difficult, and yet,
in some respects, easier for me to ask a certain question."

It must have made it more difficult than easy, for he did not
proceed to put this question immediately, but went on:

"You know that Mr. Durand visited Mrs. Fairbrother in the alcove
a little while before her death?"

"I have been told so."

"He was seen to go in, but I have not yet found any one who saw
him come out; consequently we have been unable to fix the exact
minute when he did so. What is the matter, Miss Van Arsdale? You