"In order to go into the smoking-room she must have crossed the hall;
she must have seen Lavender. In that brief interval she must have
realized that the man was persistent, and therefore a living danger to
her husband. Remember, women have done strange things; they are a far
greater puzzle to the student of human nature than the sterner, less
complex sex has ever been. As I argued before--as the police should have
argued all along--why did Lord Arthur deliberately accuse an innocent
man of murder if not to shield the guilty one?
"Remember, Lady Arthur may have been discovered; the man, George
Higgins, may have caught sight of her before she had time to make good
her retreat. His attention, as well us that of the constables, had to be
diverted. Lord Arthur acted on the blind impulse of saving his wife at
any cost."
"She may have been met by Colonel McIntosh," argued Polly.
"Perhaps she was," he said. "Who knows? The gallant colonel had to
swear to his friend's innocence. He could do that in all
conscience--after that his duty was accomplished. No innocent man was
suffering for the guilty. The knife which had belonged to Lord Arthur
would always save George Higgins. For a time it had pointed to the
husband; fortunately never to the wife.
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