Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 15 – Ripley · Library Across
Literature · Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 15Chapter 14
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Literature · Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 15
Chapter 14
RipleyEnglish
A Question of Identity
Professor Fordney and three of his friends were enjoying their weekly ‘get together’ at the University Club.
‘Professor,’ said Patrie, ‘tell us something about that Yelpir murder case you were working on.’
‘Well, gentlemen,’ he replied, in his retiring manner, ‘as you know, Yelpir’s affairs were common knowledge, and the fact that several women had reasons to wish him dead complicated matters a bit.
‘His body was found in his study, which opened on to a corridor. At the other end of the corridor and directly opposite it a staircase led to the servants’ quarters above.
‘Diana Lane, a house guest of Mrs. Yelpir at the time of the murder, was questioned, and she appeared nervous. She insisted, however, that she had been in her room at the time Yelpir was slain.
‘Nora, a servant, testified that, as she was descending the stairs leading from the servants’ quarters, at midnight, she saw Diana Lane, wearing her famous emerald pendant and dressed in an enticing black negligée, walk down the lighted corridor to Yelpir’s room. She said she followed a minute later and heard Diana and Yelpir violently quarreling. She returned to the servants’ quarters and, as she opened the door of her room, she heard a shot.
‘In the face of such evidence, Miss Lane admitted having gone to the study at the time, but protested her innocence, declaring she had remained only a minute.
‘While Miss Lane was acquitted, you know, her reputation was not above reproach. Even so, I knew without further investigation that Nora’s testimony was maliciously false.’
