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Well, well we're getting to something and to somewhere! Now, as you've told me all this, I'll just keep things quiet until I've met you and your manager to-morrow, with these two Gaffneys we'll have a conference. I won't go near the Yard until after that. Eleven o'clock to-morrow, then, at your warehouse in Gresham Street."
We must also get a search warrant and examine her belongings at that private hotel you've told us of, Mr. Appleyard. All that shall be done immediately. But first I want you to tell me one or two things. What are those two men you spoke of doing the Gaffneys?" "One of them, the chauffeur, is hanging about the Pompadour," replied Appleyard.
I've thought things out a good deal, and we can do a lot, you and me, before going to the police, though I don't think it 'ud do any harm to tell this man Chettle, supposing he were here because his discovery of that photo is the real thing." "What can we do, then?" asked Allerdyke. "Make use of the two Gaffneys," answered Appleyard without hesitation. "They're smart chaps -real keen 'uns.
When Chettle had gone, Allerdyke closed the door on him and turned to his manager with a knowing look. "That chap's right, you know, Ambler," he said. "A false move, a too hasty step'll ruin everything. If that woman's startled if she gets a suspicion egad, it's all mixed up about as badly as can be! Now, about these Gaffneys?" "Wait a while," said Appleyard.
"I take your meaning. Now then, come in, and we'll put it before my manager, Mr. Appleyard. I've great faith in his judgment let's see what he's got to say." The two Gaffneys were waiting just within the packingroom of the warehouse. Allerdyke bade them wait a little longer, and took the detective straight into Appleyard's office.
And so the two Gaffneys went off on their respective missions, and Allerdyke looked at his manager and made a grimace. "It's like a lot of blind men seeking for something they couldn't see if it was shoved under their very noses, Ambler!" he said cynically. "Is it any good?" "Maybe," replied Appleyard. "That Albert Gaffney's a smart chap he'll not lose sight of Rayner once he begins to track him.
It was only two or three hours since he had listened to another story the report of the two Gaffneys, and Allerdyke, all unaware of that business, had come upon him while he was still thinking it over. And while Appleyard gave full attention to all that his employer said, he was also thinking of what he himself could tell. By the time that Allerdyke had finished he, too, had decided to speak.
"The only thing now," said Appleyard, when the two Gaffneys had been presented with funds sufficient to carry each through all possible immediate emergencies, "is to arrange for a meeting to-night. There are two matters we want to be certain about. First, if Albert Gaffney witnesses any meeting between Rayner and Miss Slade, and, in that case, if he can tell us where they go and what they do.
The two Gaffneys arrived at that moment and Appleyard, after some further talk, assigned them their duties. Gaffney, the chauffeur, was to go at once and get himself a room at an inn in close proximity to the Pompadour Hotel, so that he would be at Appleyard's disposal at any hour of the coming evening and night. Albert Gaffney, the clerk, was to devote himself to watching Rayner.
Miss Slade, to my knowledge, is in close touch, with Rayner. Therefore, let's know what we can about Rayner. You're the man to go and see him at his own place. Do it and we'll consider the question of having him watched by the two Gaffneys when you've seen and talked to him." Allerdyke considered this somewhat strange proposal in silence for a while. At last he rose with a look of decision.
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