Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/135

Chan smiled. “I congratulate you, Mr. Tarneverro.”

“I congratulate myself, Inspector. You may recall that I told you I had another tree.”

“Mr. Jaynes,” said Chan, turning to the Britisher.

Jaynes shrugged hopelessly. “I have no alibi,” he said. “During those eighteen minutes, I was wandering along the beach, alone. Make what you wish of it. I didn’t come down here.”

“Mr. Van Horn—you did come down here?” Charlie addressed the picture actor.

“I did, worse luck,” shrugged Van Horn. “The first time in a long and honorable career that I ever got to a party ahead of the hour set. It will be a lesson to me—I can tell you that.”

“It was, I believe, eight-fifteen when Jessop admitted you?”

“About that time—yes. He told me that the party—or what there was of it—had moved to the beach. I went out on the lawn. I saw a light in a building which Jessop told me was a summer-house, and I thought of going there. I wish to heaven I had. But I heard voices down by the water, so I went there instead. I sat down by Rita Ballou—but you know all that.”

Chan nodded. “Only one remains. Mr. Martino?”

The director frowned. “Like Huntley and Mr. Jaynes,” he said, “I have no alibi worth mentioning. You wrecked me along with them when you smashed that eight-two theory.” He took a handkerchief from a side pocket and mopped his forehead. “After Jaynes left me and started down the beach, I sat in one of the hotel swings near the water. I should have been busy