"May I point out that it is identical
with the other tally cards used at Mrs. Selim's party today, and that on
its face it bears your name, 'Flora'?" and he politely extended the card
for her inspection.
"I--yes, it _must_ be mine, but I was _not_ in this room when Nita
was--was shot!"
"But you will admit that you _were_ in her clothes closet at some time
during the twenty or more minutes that elapsed between your leaving the
bridge game, when you became dummy, and the moment when Karen Marshall
screamed?"
As Flora Miles said nothing, staring at him with great, terrified black
eyes, Dundee went on relentlessly: "Mrs. Miles, when you left the bridge
game, you did not intend to telephone your house. You came _here_--into
this room!--and you lay in wait, hiding in her closet until Nita Selim
appeared, as you knew she would, sooner or later--"
"No, no! That's a lie--a lie, I tell you!" the woman shrilled at him. "I
_did_ telephone my house, and I talked to Junior, when the maid put him
up to the phone.... You can ask her yourself, if you don't believe me!"
"But _after_ you telephoned, you stole into this room--"
"No, no! I--I made up my face all fresh, just as I told you--"
Dundee did not bother to tell her how well he knew she was lying, for
suddenly something knocked on the door of his mind.
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