Colonel Weston said impatiently:

“Well, that seems clear enough. That’s not to say that nobody could have come from outside, but anyone who did so took a risk—the risk of being noticed. We’ll have a word with George and William presently.”

Mrs. Castle said:

“Ay do not care for trippers—a very noisy crowd, and they frequently leave orange peel and cigarette boxes on the causeway and down by the rocks, but all the same ay never thought one of them would turn out to be a murderer. Oh dear! it really is too terrible for words. A lady like Mrs. Marshall murdered and what’s so horrible, actually—er—strangled….”

Mrs. Castle could hardly bring herself to say the word. She brought it out with the utmost reluctance.

Inspector Colgate said soothingly:

“Yes, it’s a nasty business.”

“And the newspapers. My hotel in the newspapers!”

Colgate said, with a faint grin.

“Oh well, it’s advertisement, in a way.”

Mrs. Castle drew herself up. Her bust heaved and whalebone creaked. She said icily:

“That is not the kind of advertisement ay care about, Mr. Colgate.”

Colonel Weston broke in. He said:

“Now then, Mrs. Castle, you’ve got a list of the guests staying here, as I asked you?”

“Yes, sir.”

Colonel Weston pored over the hotel register. He looked over to Poirot who made the fourth member of the group assembled in the manageress’s office.

“This is where you’ll probably be able to help us presently.”

He read down the names.

“What about servants?”

Mrs. Castle produced a second list.

“There are four chambermaids, the head waiter and three under him and Henry in the bar. William does the boots and shoes. Then there’s the cook and two under her.”

“What about the waiters?”

“Well, sir, Albert, the Mater Dotel, came to me from the Vincent at Plymouth. He was there for some years. The three under him have been here for three years—one of them four. They are very naise lads and most respectable. Henry has been here since the hotel opened. He is quite an institution.”

Weston nodded. He said to Colgate:

“Seems all right. You’ll check up on them, of course. Thank you, Mrs. Castle.”

“That will be all you require?”

“For the moment, yes.”

Mrs. Castle creaked out of the room.

Weston said:

“First thing to do is to talk with Captain Marshall.

IV

Kenneth Marshall sat quietly answering the questions put to him. Apart from a slight hardening of his features he was quite calm. Seen here, with the sunlight falling on him from the window, you realized that he was a handsome man. Those straight features, the steady blue eyes, the firm mouth. His voice was low and pleasant.

Colonel Weston was saying:

“I quite understand, Captain Marshall, what a terrible shock this must be to you. But you realize that I am anxious to get the fullest information as soon as possible.”

Marshall nodded.

He said:

“I quite understand. Carry on.”

“Mrs. Marshall was your second wife?”