As Inspector Kelsey hesitated, she said,

‘You’re afraid that if you tell me who is not cleared, I should show it in my manner to them. You’re wrong. I shouldn’t.’

‘I don’t think you would,’ said Kelsey. ‘But I can’t afford to take any chances. It doesn’t look, on the face of it, as though any of your staff can be the person we’re looking for. That is, not so far as we’ve been able to check up on them. We’ve paid special attention to those who are new this term—that is Mademoiselle Blanche, Miss Springer and your secretary, Miss Shapland. Miss Shapland’s past is completely corroborated. She’s the daughter of a retired general, she has held the posts she says she did and her former employers vouch for her. In addition she has an alibi for last night. When Miss Vansittart was killed, Miss Shapland was with a Mr Dennis Rathbone at a night club. They’re both well known there, and Mr Rathbone has an excellent character. Mademoiselle Blanche’s antecedents have also been checked. She has taught at a school in the north of England and at two schools in Germany, and has been given an excellent character. She is said to be a first-class teacher.’

‘Not by our standards,’ sniffed Miss Bulstrode.

‘Her French background has also been checked. As regards Miss Springer, things are not quite so conclusive. She did her training where she says, but there have been gaps since in her periods of employment which are not fully accounted for.

‘Since, however, she was killed,’ added the Inspector, ‘that seems to exonerate her.’

‘I agree,’ said Miss Bulstrode dryly, ‘that both Miss Springer and Miss Vansittart are hors de combat as suspects. Let us talk sense. Is Mademoiselle Blanche, in spite of her blameless background, still a suspect merely because she is still alive?’

‘She could have done both murders. She was here, in the building, last night,’ said Kelsey. ‘She says she went to bed early and slept and heard nothing until the alarm was given. There’s no evidence to the contrary. We’ve got nothing against her. But Miss Chadwick says definitely that she’s sly.’

Miss Bulstrode waved that aside impatiently.

‘Miss Chadwick always finds the French Mistresses sly. She’s got a thing about them.’ She looked at Adam. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think she pries,’ said Adam slowly. ‘It may be just natural inquisitiveness. It may be something more. I can’t make up my mind. She doesn’t look to me like a killer, but how does one know?’

‘That’s just it,’ said Kelsey. ‘There is a killer here, a ruthless killer who has killed twice—but it’s very hard to believe that it’s one of the staff. Miss Johnson was with her sister last night at Limeston on Sea, and anyway she’s been with you seven years. Miss Chadwick’s been with you since you started. Both of them, anyway, are clear of Miss Springer’s death. Miss Rich has been with you over a year and was staying last night at the Alton Grange Hotel, twenty miles away, Miss Blake was with friends at Littleport, Miss Rowan has been with you for a year and has a good background. As for your servants, frankly I can’t see any of them as murderers. They’re all local, too…’