"Thank you. Protheroe. I think I have all that quite clear. And now we come to the point. Where was this Mr. Rockingham on the night before last, and on the night of the murder of Miss Hewitt?"
"That," said Protheroe, "is not so promising."
"I thought there would be a catch in it somewhere," said the Chief Inspector.
"Higgins swears that his... Dr... charge was under lock and key. It is the invariable practice of Higgins to conduct Mr. Rockingham to bed at 9:30 p.m. precisely. As a valet he personally supervises the undressing of his master, and locks him securely into a bedroom on the top floor of the house. Mr. Rockingham is not called till eight o'clock on the following morning."
"I see," said the Chief Inspector. "So we must assume, if we are to assume anything at all, that Rocking
