Roberts shrugged his shoulders.

"She's a widow. Moderately well off. Intelligent, well-bred woman – first class bridge player. That's where I've met her as a matter of fact, playing bridge."

"And Mr. Shaitana never mentioned her either?"

"No."

"H'm – that doesn't help us much. Now, Doctor Roberts, perhaps you'll be so kind as to tax your memory carefully and tell me how often you yourself left your seat at the bridge table and all you can remember about the movements of the others."

Doctor Roberts took a few minutes to think.

"It's difficult," he said frankly, "I can remember my own movements more or less. I got up three times – that is, on three occasions when I was dummy, I left my seat and made myself useful. Once I went over and put wood on the fire. Once I brought drinks to the two ladies. Once I poured out a whisky and soda for myself."

"Can you remember the times?"

"I could only say very roughly. We began to play about nine-thirty, I imagine. I should say it was about an hour later that I stoked the fire; quite a short time after that I fetched the drinks, next hand but one, I think; and perhaps half-past eleven when I got myself a whisky and soda but those times are quite approximate. I couldn't answer for their being correct."

"The table, with the drinks was beyond Mr. Shaitana's chair?"

"Yes. That's to say I passed quite near him three times."

"And each time to the best of your belief he was asleep?"

"That's what I thought the first time. The second time I didn't even look at him. Third time I rather fancy the thought just passed through my mind 'How the beggar does sleep' but I didn't really look at him."

"Very good. Now when did your fellow players leave then seats?"

Doctor Roberts frowned.

"Difficult – very difficult. Despard went and fetched an extra ash tray, I think. And he went for a drink. That was before me, for I remember he asked me if I'd have one and I said I wasn't quite ready."