"Did your Ladyship
take the letter into the next room with you?"
"I was too much alarmed to think of it, Mr. Troy. I left it here, on the
table."
"With the envelope open?"
"Yes."
"How long were you absent in the other room?"
"Half an hour or more."
"Ha!" said Mr. Troy to himself. "This complicates it a little." He
reflected for a while, and then turned again to Moody. "Did any of the
servants know of this bank-note being in her Ladyship's possession?"
"Not one of them," Moody answered.
"Do you suspect any of the servants?"
"Certainly not, sir."
"Are there any workmen employed in the house?"
"No, sir."
"Do you know of any persons who had access to the room while Lady
Lydiard was absent from it?"
"Two visitors called, sir."
"Who were they?"
"Her Ladyship's nephew, Mr. Felix Sweetsir, and the Honorable Alfred
Hardyman."
Mr. Troy shook his head irritably. "I am not speaking of gentlemen of
high position and repute," he said. "It's absurd even to mention Mr.
Sweetsir and Mr. Hardyman. My question related to strangers who might
have obtained access to the drawing-room--people calling, with her
Ladyship's sanction, for subscriptions, for instance; or people calling
with articles of dress or ornament to be submitted to her Ladyship's
inspection."
"No such persons came to the house with my knowledge," Moody answered.
Mr. Troy suspended the investigation, and took a turn thoughtfully in
the room. The theory on which his inquiries had proceeded thus far had
failed to produce any results.
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