"I merely
thought you might be able to shed a little light on the past of the
woman who has been murdered here today, with a weapon you admit to
having owned.... However--"
The elderly ex-judge stared at his tormentor for a moment as if murder
was in his heart. He gasped twice, then suddenly his whole manner
changed.
"I apologize, Dundee. You must realize how--But that is beside the
point. I met Nita Leigh at--er--at a social gathering, arranged by some
New York friends of mine. She was young, attractive, more refined
than--er--than the average young woman in musical comedy. Naturally I
told her if she was ever in Hamilton to look me up. And she did."
"And because she was 'more refined than the average young woman in
musical comedy'--than the average chorus girl, to put it simply," Dundee
took him up, "you co-operated with Mrs. Dunlap to introduce her to your
most intimate friends--including your wife?"
"Oh, Hugo! Why didn't you tell me?" Karen Marshall wailed.
"You see, sir, what you are doing!" Judge Marshall stormed.
"I am truly sorry if I have distressed you, Mrs. Marshall," Dundee
protested sincerely. "But--" He shrugged and turned again to the
husband. "I understand you were Mrs. Selim's landlord.... May I ask how
much rent she paid?"
"The house rents for one hundred dollars a month--furnished.
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