“That must have been a shock for you,” Darcy said.

“Sure was. All that blood. I thought the killer might still be in the building and I’d be next.”

“You didn’t hear any footsteps running or a door slamming, as you would have done if someone had to get away in a hurry?” I asked.

He shook his head. “How many times do I have to tell you that I heard nothing?”

“If you heard nothing of a struggle, presumably you would not have heard anyone coming into the castle, or even knocking at the front door and being admitted by Mr. Roach,” I suggested.

“That’s ridiculous,” he snapped. “Mr. Roach never answered the front door himself. And visitors had to telephone the house from the front gate before they were admitted. And for that matter, he had no visitors. He was a private kind of guy. Kept himself to himself and no one from the States knew he was over here.”

We didn’t seem to be getting anywhere.

“So what will you do now?” I asked. “Were you Mr. Roach’s valet for long?”

“He hired me when he was coming to Ireland,” he said. “I guess I’ll have to find myself another job. I might just stay on in Ireland. There seem to be more high-class people with money and big houses than there are in the States these days.”

I thought he’d need to refine his speech and manners somewhat if he wanted to be hired by Irish aristocrats, but I kept this opinion to myself. Instead I asked, “So how long are you expected to stay on at the castle? Until the end of the investigation?”

“Nobody’s actually told me,” he said. “That inspector guy said I should stick around for now, just to make sure the place is secure and nothing gets touched. Then I’ll have to give evidence at the trial. But I hope they get this thing over in a hurry. Staying in this place alone gives me the creeps.”

“Of course, there could be another reason why you’ve been asked to stay on,” I said.

“What’s that?”

“That you are also a suspect,” I said.

I really did notice the alarm in his eyes this time. “Me? How can I be a suspect? I found the guy lying there.”

“So you say,” I said. His eyes were darting nervously now. I was rather enjoying this. “But it’s only your word, isn’t it? You could easily have killed Mr. Roach yourself and then tried to put the blame on Lord Kilhenny. To frame Lord Kilhenny.”

“Why would I want to kill the guy?” he demanded.

“I don’t know. Why would you?” I asked sweetly. “Maybe something will emerge when the police in America check into your background.”

“They can’t pin nothing on me,” he said hastily. “I’ve led a blameless life, kid.”