My lady was murdered! Who had done the deed?
Very early in the wet and dismal morning, Miss Silver, braving the elements, wended her way to the Blue Bell Inn.
Where was Mr.Parmalee?
Gone, the landlady said, and gone for good, nobody knew where.
Sybilla stood and stared at her incredulously.

Gone, and without a word to her--gone without seeing the murdered woman! What did it mean?
"Are you sure he has really gone ?" she asked.

"And how did he go ?" "Sure as sure!" was the landlady's response; "which he paid his bill to the last farthing, like a gentleman.

And as for how he went, I am sure I can't say, not being took in his confidence; but the elderly party, she went with him, and it was late last evening." Miss Silver was nonplused, perplexed, bewildered, and very anxious.
What did Mr.Parmalee mean?
Where had he gone?
He might spoil all yet.

She had come to see him, and accuse him of the murder--to frighten him, and make him fly the village.