Major Riddle cut him short.
“What time was that?”
“It was exactly eight minutes past eight, sir.”
The chief constable said sharply:
“How is it you can fix the time to a minute?”
“That’s easy, sir. I had just sounded the first going.”
“The first gong?”
“Yes, sir. By Sir Gervase’s orders, a gong was always to be sounded seven minutes before the actual dinner gong. Very particular he was, sir, that everyone should be assembled ready in the drawing room when the second gong went. As soon as I had sounded the second gong, I went to the drawing room and announced dinner, and everyone went in.”
“I begin to understand,” said Hercule Poirot, “why you looked so surprised when you announced dinner this evening. It was usual for Sir Gervase to be in the drawing room?”
“I’d never known him not be there before, sir. It was quite a shock. I little thought—”
Again Major Riddle interrupted adroitly:
“And were the others also usually there?”
Snell coughed.
“Anyone who was late for dinner, sir, was never asked to the house again.”
“H’m, very drastic.”
“Sir Gervase, sir, employed a chef who was formerly with the Emperor of Moravia. He used to say, sir, that dinner was as important as a religious ritual.”
“And what about his own family?”
“Lady Chevenix-Gore was always very particular not to upset him, sir, and even Miss Ruth dared not be late for dinner.”
“Interesting,” murmured Hercule Poirot.
“I see,” said Riddle. “So, dinner being at a quarter past eight, you sounded the first gong at eight minutes past as usual?”
“That is so, sir—but it wasn’t as usual. Dinner was usually at eight. Sir Gervase gave orders that dinner was to be a quarter of an hour later this evening, as he was expecting a gentleman by the late train.”
Snell made a little bow towards Poirot as he spoke.
“When your master went to the study, did he look upset or worried in any way?”
“I could not say, sir. It was too far for me to judge of his expression. I just noticed him, that was all.”
“Was he left alone when he went to the study?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did anyone go to the study after that?”
“I could not say, sir. I went to the butler’s pantry after that, and was there until I sounded the first gong at eight minutes past eight.”
“That was when you heard the shot?”
“Yes, sir.”