The Tunisian Dagger

           Imettheinspectorjustcomingfromthedoorwhichledintothekitchenquarters.

           "How’stheyounglady,doctor?""Comingroundnicely.Hermother’swithher.""That’sgood.I’vebeenquestioningtheservants.Theyalldeclarethatnoonehasbeentothebackdoortonight.Yourdescriptionofthatstrangerwasrathervague.Can’tyougiveussomethingmoredefinitetogoupon?""I’mafraidnot,"Isaidregretfully."Itwasadarknight,you.see,andthefellowhadhiscoatcollarwellpulledupandhishatsquasheddownoverhiseyes.""H’m,"saidtheinspector."Lookedasthoughhewantedtoconcealhisface.Sureitwasnooneyouknow?"Irepliedinthenegative,butnotasdecidedlyasImighthavedone.Irememberedmyimpressionthatthestranger’svoicewasnotunfamiliartome.Iexplainedthisratherhaltinglytotheinspector.

           "Itwasarough,uneducatedvoice,yousay?"Iagreed,butitoccurredtomethattheroughnesshadbeenofanalmostexaggeratedquality.If,astheinspectorthought,themanhadwishedtohidehisface,hemightequallywellhavetriedtodisguisehisvoice.

           "Doyoumindcomingintothestudywithmeagain,doctor?ThereareoneortwothingsIwanttoaskyou."Iacquiesced.InspectorDavisunlockedthedoorofthelobby,wepassedthrough,andhelockedthedooragainbehindhim.

           "Wedon’twanttobedisturbed,"hesaidgrimly."Andwedon’twantanyeavesdroppingeither.