"Most extraordinary." There was a little tap at the door and the matron appeared.
"Miss Stevens is ready," she said, and Tarling rose.
Dr.Saunders rose with him, and, going to a shelf took down a large ledger, and placing it on his table, opened it and took up a pen.
"I shall have to mark her discharge," he said, turning over the leaves, and running his finger down the page.

"Here she is--Miss Stevens, concussion and shock." He looked at the writing under his hand and then lifted his eyes to the detective.
"When was this murder committed ?" he asked.
"On the night of the fourteenth." "On the night of the fourteenth ?" repeated the doctor thoughtfully.

"At what time ?" "The hour is uncertain," said Tarling, impatient and anxious to finish his conversation with this gossiping surgeon; "some time after eleven." "Some time after eleven," repeated the doctor.

"It couldn't have been committed before.

When was the man last seen alive ?" "At half-past nine," said Tarling with a little smile.