She was strangled--a peculiarly atrocious thing where an attractive and ladylike woman is concerned.

I have never spoken to her, but have met her at odd times on the stairs.

I was immeasurably shocked, I assure you.

In fact, I was on the point of telegraphing an excuse to you for this evening, but the Chief Inspector--Winter, I think his name is--said it would suffice for his purpose if I met him at my flat about eleven o'clock, as he was engaged on other inquiries which would occupy the intervening hours." "But if the news of this dastardly crime only reached you tonight at Waterloo Station, and you have no personal acquaintance with Mrs.
Lester, what evidence can you give that will assist the police ?" "Mrs.Lester received a visitor last night, an incident so unusual that I, who heard him arrive, and Bates, who was in my sitting room when we both heard him depart, commented on the strangeness of it.

That, I suppose, is the reason why I am in request by Scotland Yard." "You say 'him.' How did you know it was a man?
Did you see him ?" "Er--that was impossible.