shoes, as required.â
âHave you done that recently?â
âYes, sir. On the last two nights, because of farewell parties and such arrangements, I helped Mrs. Morgan to dress the mistress and undress her when she returned.â
âOn her last night, will you tell me what happened exactly, then?â
âYou mean â¦?â
âTell us what happened at
The Limes
on Mrs. Havenithâs last night there, between seven oâclock and midnightâ
Molly thought for a minute.
âMrs. Havenith had arranged a theatre party and a dinner after it. The Steinbergs called. Heâs her bank manager. They all went off together at about seven oâclock. At about nine oâclock Mrs. Havenith and Mr. Leo, thatâs her stepson by Mr. Havenithâs first wife, were back at
The Limes
. Mrs. Havenith had been taken unwell and theyâd left their friends and come home.â
âDid she seem unwell to you, Molly?â
Molly hesitated.
âYou neednât hesitate, Molly. Just tell me the truth. This concerns a murder and itâs your duty to be frank with us. I know a good servant should be discreet and not talk outside about her mistress, but this is an exceptional case and you must tell me all you know. We will see that you donât suffer for your confidences.â
The girl had to struggle against her habitual duty, but she did her best.
âThey got back, at nine, sir.â
âDid Mrs. Havenith seem unwell?â
âNot to my way of thinking.⦠She was upset, but not sick.â
âWhy was she upset?â
âI suppose it was because she wouldnât be seeing Mr. Leo again for some time. He was going back to America on business for the master and would be away for a month.â
âYou heard him say that?â
âYes. They ordered a bottle of champagne for what she called a farewell drink. They nearly drank the lot. She wouldnât have done that if sheâd got a bad headache or was sick.â
âAfter that, did they retire?â
âIt depends on what you mean by retire. They took more champagne to her bedroom and drank it there.â
âWhat time did he leave her?â
âJust before ten. She rang for Mrs. Morgan then and Mrs. Morgan sent for me. Mrs. Havenith was a bit drunk and did what she usually did when she was like that.â
âWhat did she do?â
âThrew her things about the room, slipped out of her clothes, and into bed without a stitch of clothing on her. Then we had to gather everything together and tidy up.â
âIncluding her jewellery?â
âYes. Mrs. Morgan gave it to Mr. Cairncross to put away in the safe.â
âThen you left her?â
âYes. She was all the time telling Mrs. Morgan to leave her alone, but Mrs. Morgan wouldnât go until weâd left everything straight.â
âWhat time would that be?â
âBefore ten oâclock.â
âYouâre sure?â
âYes, sir. There was only Mrs. Morgan and me in the house. Mr. Morgan had gone to his masonic.â¦â
âWhat about the other three girls?â
âWith Mrs. Havenith leaving the following morning early and there being no party arranged the three of them were paid off at six and went away with their luggage as soon as the mistress left for the theatre.â
âSo you, the Morgans, Mrs. Havenith and Leo were the only ones in the house that night?â
âYes. Thatâs right.â
Molly was beginning to look uneasy as though anticipating the next question.
âWere Leo and Mrs. Havenith lovers?â
Molly had an anaemic complexion, but she turned paler.
âOh, sir. Thatâs no business of mine. Iâd never get another job if I gossipped about what goes on in places I go to.â
âThis isnât gossip, Molly. It concerns a murder committed at the time weâre talking about. We want to know all we can about what went on.