[MaC] An Almighty Row (correction)

[Brian Schoner]

> "And wasn't Miss Diamond pregnant by an officer?" she asked
> the room hesitantly while continuing to watch Philip.  "He's
> an officer. And he says he heard me in the lounge, but I
> didn't hear him."

"I would be surprised if you had, madam, since I didn't *say* anything until
I offered to go downstairs and meet the Warden," Philip replied, somewhat
testily. "And I believe that the identity of Miss Diamond's...lover...is a
matter of hearsay and nothing more. Even if it's true, there are a number of
officers here, and I daresay more than a few others in London. Even if we
assume that the rumor is correct, *and* that that was the motive for her
murder -- which is by no means given, as you yourself have pointed out --
that hardly points a finger at me alone."

> "Maybe... someone should check Mr. Powell's pockets for a
> knife or something that could hold poison?" she suggested.

"I'll save you the trouble," Philip snapped. Reaching into his left-hand
trouser pocket, he pulled out a small and ordinary-looking penknife, along
with a wallet, a few loose coins and a set of keys, and dumped the lot onto
a nearby table. He then turned the pocket inside-out to prove that it was
empty, then reached awkwardly across to do the same thing, left-handed, with
his (empty) right-hand trouser pocket. 

"And, Miss...Higgins, is it?" He gestured towards Marjorie with his mangled
and bandaged right hand. "If you can think of a way to strangle someone
one-handed, do please let me know. There are so few things I can do with
just the one hand, after all."