The Second Confesion

“My office cannot afford to be off-hand about sudden and violent death, even if it wanted to. In this case we have to answer not only to our own consciences, and to the people of this county whose servants we are, but also to-may I say, to other interests. There have already been inquiries from New York City authorities, and an offer of co-operation. They mean it well and we welcome it, but I mention it to show that the interest in Rony's death is not confined to my jurisdiction, and that of course increases my responsibility. I hope-do I make my meaning clear?” “Perfectly,” Sperling assented “Then you will see that nothing can be casually overlooked-not that it should be or would be, in any event. Anyhow, it can't be. As you know, we have questioned everyone here fairly rigorously-including all of your domestic staff-and we have got not the slightest clue to what happened. No one knows anything about it at all, with the single exception of your younger daughter, who admits-I should say states-that she asked Rony to come here on that train and meet her at a certain spot on this property. No one-” Wolfe grunted. “Miss Sperling didn't ask him to come on that train. She asked him to come. It was his convenience that determined the train.” “My mistake,” Archer conceded. “Anyhow, it was her summons that brought him. He came on that train. It was on time. He got into the taxi at once, and the driving time from the railroad station to the entrance to these grounds is six or seven minutes, therefore he arrived at half-past nine-perhaps a minute or so later. He may have headed straight for the place of his rendezvous, or he may have loitered on the drive-we don't know.” Archer fingered among the papers before him, looked at one, and sat up again.

“If he loitered, your daughter may have been at the place of rendezvous at the time he was killed. She intended to get there at nine-thirty but was delayed by a conversation with her sister and was a little late-she thinks about ten minutes, possibly fifteen. Her sister, who saw her leave the house, corroborates that. If Rony loitered-” “Isn't this rather elaborate?” Sperling put in.