“I’ll certainly do my best,” he answered lightly. “Though I haven’t had a chance yet to study the case.”

“But Madam Melinska isn’t guilty, sir, I know she isn’t. Nor Miss Lister,” the young man added hastily.

“How do you know?” Rollison asked sharply.

The close-set eyes dropped to the floor, evading Rollison’s penetrating gaze. “I— er—I—”

The front door bell cut sharply across the stranger’s fumbling attempts at explanation.

CHAPTER FOUR

Flat Full

Rollison wondered what was going through the young man’s mind. Who was he, he wondered, and what was his real interest in the case. Oh well, he would have to find out later.

“Come and see this,” he invited.

Followed by the stranger, he went into the hall, and standing a few feet from the door, looked upwards. Over the lintel was a small periscope-type mirror, and this now showed a miniature reflection of Jolly, the woman who had thrown the ammonia, and a policeman.

“Old-fashioned, but effective,” remarked Lucifer Stride. This few minutes respite had given him a chance to recover his sangfroid.

“An anachronism,” thought Rollison, as he opened the door.

Jolly, standing nearest to him, looked searchingly into his face, was obviously reassured, and immediately relaxed.

“Mrs Abbott, sir,” he said.

The woman looked dazed, and now the weal on her cheek was much redder and more noticeable. The policeman was holding her arm.

“Come in, Mrs Abbott,” Rollison said, and for once wished there was another woman in the flat. He led the way to the living-room. Jolly moved ahead and pushed a pouffe into position in front of an armchair. Mrs Abbott was helped into the chair, only Lucifer standing aside with real or affected indifference. Jolly disappeared.