I met her at a Red Cross concert at which she sang."
"Do you think she loved her husband?"
"I know she did."
"Was there any--prior attachment?"
"Not that I know of."
"Mr. Quentin Gray?"
Margaret smiled, rather mirthlessly.
"He is my cousin, Inspector, and it was I who introduced him to Rita
Irvin. I sincerely wish I had never done so. He lost his head
completely."
"There was nothing in Mrs. Irvin's attitude towards him to justify her
husband's jealousy?"
"She was always frightfully indiscreet, Inspector, but nothing more.
You see, she is greatly admired, and is used to the company of silly,
adoring men. Her husband doesn't really understand the ways of these
Bohemian folks. I knew it would lead to trouble sooner or later."
"Ah!"
Chief Inspector Kerry thrust his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"Now--Sir Lucien?"
Margaret tapped more rapidly with the paper-knife.
"Sir Lucien belonged to a set of which Rita had been a member during
her stage career. I think--he admired her; in fact, I believe he had
offered her marriage. But she did not care for him in the least--in
that way."
"Then in what way did she care for him?" rapped Kerry.
"Well--now we are coming to the point." Momentarily she hesitated,
then: "They were both addicted--"
"Yes?"
"--to drugs.
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