I called at the Sterns' house at nine-fifteen, I was rather later than I have planned to bebecause I had visited another patient. When Mrs Stern let me into the house she seemed rather embarrassed and showed me into the sitting-room, I could hear TrevorStern shouting at someone in his study. Mrs Stern said something about teenage girlsand that they had problems with Lucy. Well, the shouting stopped almostimmediately, so I went to his study. Lucy had alreadyleft the room before I gotthere. I tried to explain to Trevor why he needed to have these hospital tests, but he did not let me. He said I was an ignorant country doctor who did not know what he talks about. I realized it was no use arguing with him so I left) after only a fewminutes. Iwas quite angry actually. I let myself out of the house without seeingLucy or Mrs. Stem.Yes, Trevor was my business partner. We were not really friends. Yes, my housewas just round the corner from the Sterns. I have lived here for two years. Now. I havea little cottage in the village. But I bought this house when I started earning a lot ofmoney. I can't really tell you very much about the night Trevor died. I took my dogfor a long walk that evening, I went up on the hills, away from the village. Then thestupid dog went after a rabbit or something and I lost him in the dark. I looked forhim when I met Lucy, as a matter of fact. She walked up the road towards theirhouse. She seemed rather upset. I asked her if she saw the dog, but she said she did not. She went into her house and I found him a few minutes afterwards, I wasback home by just after quarter to ten.Detective Inspector Blackledge showed the statements to her colleague, SergeantRoss.BLACKLEDGE: Well, Ross. What you think? Who killed Stern?ROSS: I do not know. It was not his wife. She did not even go into the study.BLACKLEDGE: But she admitted she did not love him. You think she waslove with the doctor?ROSS: It is possible. And perhaps Trevor Stern found out. But we knowthe doctor was at the hospital by ten o'clock that night. And that was at least half anhour from the Sterns' house.BLACKLEDGE: But that means he left the Stems' house before half pastnine.ROSS: Exactly.BLACKLEDGE: Anyway, Dorothy Stern told her sister she would leave herhusband. She did not need murder him.ROSS: But what about Lucy?BLACKLEDGE: Yes, there is something about Lucy's story which doesn't quitefit. Let's see, what did Gerald Brook say?ROSS: That's it! Lucy did not walk to the village and back, if he met her attwenty to ten. She still shouted at by her father at nine-fifteen.BLACKLEDGE: But look at all the statements. The times don't fit.ROSS: Neither do the facts. Someone tells lies.BLACKLEDGE: I think it's time we make an arrest.