beside the bed,
caught her in his arms as she fainted.

CHAPTER XII

THE HOSPITAL BOOK

While the nurse was attending to the girl Tarling sought an interview
with the medical officer in charge of the hospital.

"I don't think there's a great deal the matter with her," said the
doctor. "In fact, she was fit for discharge from hospital two or three
days ago, and it was only at her request that we let her stay. Do I
understand that she is wanted in connection with the Daffodil Murder?"

"As a witness," said Tarling glibly. He realised that he was saying a
ridiculous thing, because the fact that a warrant was out for Odette
Rider must have been generally known to the local authorities. Her
description had been carefully circulated, and that description must have
come to the heads of hospitals and public institutions. The next words
of the doctor confirmed his knowledge.

"As a witness, eh?" he said dryly. "Well, I don't want to pry into your
secrets, or rather into the secrets of Scotland Yard, but she is fit to
travel just as soon as you like."

There was a knock on the door, and the matron came into the doctor's
office.

"Miss Rider wishes to see you, sir," she said, addressing Tarling, and
the detective, taking up his hat, went back to the little ward.

He found the girl more composed but still deathly white. She was out of
bed, sitting in a big arm chair, wrapped in a dressing-gown, and she
motioned Tarling to pull up a chair to her side. She waited until after
the door had closed behind the nurse, then she spoke.

"It was very silly of me to faint, Mr. Tarling but the news was so
horrible and so unexpected. Won't you tell me all about it? You see, I
have not read a newspaper since I have been in the hospital. I heard one
of the nurses talk about the Daffodil Murder--that is not the----"

She hesitated, and Tarling nodded. He was lighter of heart now, almost
cheerful. He had no doubt in his mind that the girl was innocent, and
life had taken on a rosier aspect.

"Thornton Lyne," he began, "was murdered on the night of the 14th. He was
last seen alive by his valet about half-past nine in the evening. Early
next morning his body was found in Hyde Park. He had been shot dead, and
an effort had been made to stanch the wound in his breast by binding a
woman's silk night-dress round and round his body. On his breast somebody
had laid a bunch of daffodils."

"Daffodils?" repeated the girl wonderingly.