It
would seem as though immediately after the servants left the
room someone had stabbed the deceased to the heart, before she
had time to rise or even alter her position. But Susan Grant
asserts that no one was in the room. There was only one door,
out of which she departed. The bedroom of Miss Loach on the
basement floor had a door which opened into the passage, as
did the sitting-room door. No one could have entered until
the servant departed. The passage was lighted with electricity,
but she did not observe anyone about, nor did she hear a sound.
She showed out Mr. Clancy and then returned to the kitchen.
Certainly the assassin may have been concealed in the bedroom
and have stolen into the sitting-room when Susan Grant was
showing out Mr. Clancy. Perhaps then he killed the deceased
suddenly, as we said before. He could have then come up the
stairs and have escaped while the servants were at supper.
It might have been the murderer who opened the door, and was
overheard by Thomas.
"The policeman was on duty about ten, as he was seen by Susan
Grant when she showed Mr. Clancy to the door. The policeman
also asserted that he was again on the spot--i.e., in the
roadway opposite the cottage--at eleven. At these times the
assassin could not have escaped without being seen. There is
no exit at the back, as a high wall running round an
unfinished house belonging to the eccentric Lord Caranby
blocks the way.
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