The bed linens had been changed, discovered when Brodie pulled back the brocade comforter and ran his hands over the surface of the linens, while I searched the adjoining bathroom.
Unlike the one off the conservatory, there was nothing unusual there. A linen towel had been dropped into a basket for staff to collect. If the lady in question had been in these rooms there was nothing to indicate it.
I returned to the main bedchamber and continued my inspection at the writing desk where a man of Sir Collingwood’s expertise and habit might make notes. Everything there was in order as well—parchment stationery and pen with a blotter to prevent the ink smearing. All of it apparently untouched.
Brodie had returned to the small parlor.
“The hearth is clean as well,” he commented. “It would seem that Sir Collingwood did not have a fire that last night. Or possibly it has been cleaned. We need to speak with the servants who were present.”
We had been informed by Sir Avery that the servants had all been questioned about anything unusual they might have seen or heard that last night of the gentlemen’s get-together.
Mr. Flannery reminded us of that.
“Nevertheless, sir,” Brodie told him. “We wish to speak with the servants who were on this floor that last night.”
There were four servants who had been assigned to the floor the night Sir Collingwood disappeared, to see to various duties should he or any of the other guests require anything—a late supper, perhaps additional drink, a book from the library, more coal for the fire, or a late-night tonic against some discomfort.
We met with each of the servants in the ground floor library. They appeared one-by-one, escorted by Mr. Compton who then hovered silently nearby.
We spoke first with the floor steward, who assured us there was nothing amiss that last night. Sir Collingwood had retired for the evening just after midnight and there had been no further exchange with him.
The footman confirmed that same information. He had made certain there was enough coal in the coal bin that night as the temperatures had grown quite chilly with the changing season.
Monsieur Duladier, the valet who attended Sir Collingwood that night, saw to it that his clothes were cleaned and pressed for the evening and other entertainments, then returned late in the evening to make certain that all was in readiness for Sir Collingwood to retire for the night.
There was some difficulty between the man’s obvious French accent and Brodie’s thick Scots accent.
Although whether the difficulty was merely one of language or perhaps contrived on Monsieur Duladier’s part, I repeated the questions in French much to his surprise.
Had there been any late arrivals for the weekend that were not on the list provided? I asked. He replied in surprisingly excellent English that had not been so clear earlier.
Had there been any messages or telegrams delivered or received? There had not been.
Was there any indication that Sir Collingwood might have left his chambers at any time after he retired for the evening?
“No, madame,” Duladier replied. “He did not leave his chambers.”
Yet, those footprints Brodie had found below Sir Collingwood’s chambers told something different.
“Might he have had a visitor late at night?”
His response was the same.
“Will that be all, madame?” the valet then inquired.
I was quite done with the man, with no patience for rudeness or condescending attitudes.
It was Brodie who informed him, “That will be all.”
It did seem that our inquiries were at an end, to be taken up again in the morning when there was sufficient daylight to investigate those footprints Brodie had discovered at the base of the steps.
“May we see to your accommodations now, sir?” Mr. Flannery inquired.
“Thank ye kindly, but no. We will be staying in the village and returning in the morning,” Brodie informed him.
I looked at him with some surprise, however staying over in the village for the night would give us the opportunity to discuss what we had learned, away from walls that had ears.
“You will require a coach then, sir,” Mr. Flannery replied. “I will have Mr. Compton inform the stablemaster.”
