‘He was not helpless? He could move about?’
‘Yes, sir, but not very easily. Rheumatoid arthritis was what he suffered from, sir. He was worse some days than others.’
‘Did he never go into another room in the daytime?’
‘No, sir. He preferred to be in just the one room. Mr Lee wasn’t luxurious in his tastes. It was a big room with plenty of air and light in it.’
‘Mr Lee had his supper at seven, you say?’
‘Yes, sir. I took the tray away and put out the sherry and two glasses on the bureau.’
‘Why did you do that?’
‘Mr Lee’s orders.’
‘Was that usual?’
‘Sometimes. It was the rule that none of the family came to see Mr Lee in the evening unless he invited them. Some evenings he liked to be alone. Other evenings he’d send down and ask Mr Alfred, or Mrs Alfred, or both of them, to come up after dinner.’
‘But, as far as you know, he had not done so on this occasion? That is, he had not sent a message to any member of the family requesting their presence?’
‘He hadn’t sent any message by me, sir.’
‘So that he wasn’t expecting any of the family?’
‘He might have asked one of them personally, sir.’
‘Of course.’
Horbury continued:
‘I saw that everything was in order, wished Mr Lee goodnight and left the room.’
Poirot asked:
‘Did you make up the fire before you left the room?’
The valet hesitated.
‘It wasn’t necessary, sir. It was well built up.’
‘Could Mr Lee have done that himself?’
‘Oh no, sir. I expect Mr Harry Lee had done it.’
‘Mr Harry Lee was with him when you came in before supper?’
‘Yes, sir. He went away when I came.’
‘What was the relationship between the two as far as you could judge?’
‘Mr Harry Lee seemed in very good spirits, sir. Throwing back his head and laughing a good deal.’
‘And Mr Lee?’
‘He was quiet and rather thoughtful.’
‘I see. Now, there’s something more I want to know, Horbury: What can you tell us about the diamonds Mr Lee kept in his safe?’