"When did you take that revolver out of the table drawer ?" "When I heard him outside on the terrace," said Dale promptly and truthfully.

"I was frightened." Lizzie tiptoed over to Miss Cornelia.
"You wanted a detective!" she said in an ironic whisper.

"I hope you're happy now you've got one!" Miss Cornelia gave her a look that sent her scuttling back to her former post by the door.

But nevertheless, internally, she felt thoroughly in accord with Lizzie.
Again Anderson's questions pounded at the rigid Dale, striving to pierce her armor of mingled truth and falsehood.
"When Fleming came in, what did he say to you ?" "Just--something about the weather," said Dale weakly.

The whole scene was, still too horribly vivid before her eyes for her to furnish a more convincing alibi.
"You didn't have any quarrel with him ?" Dale hesitated.
"No." "He just came in that door--said something about the weather--and was shot from that staircase.