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Pawle glanced at Viner, and Viner knew what he was thinking of. The two documents just described by Mr. Perkwite had not been among the papers which Methley and Woodlesford had exhibited at Carless & Driver's office. "A moment," said Mr. Pawle, lifting an arresting finger. "Did you happen to notice where this marriage took place?" "It was not in Melbourne," replied Mr. Perkwite.
That'll be far better than calling the police in." "Give me your telephone-number, then," said Perkwite, "and keep a strict watch while I'm away." Millwaters repeated some figures and a letter, and Perkwite ran off up the street and toward the Whitechapel Road, anxiously seeking for a telephone booth.
"You'd have thought that when Lord Marketstoke was so extensively advertised for some years ago, on the death of his father, some of these officials " "Ah! I put that point to Ashton," interrupted Mr. Perkwite.
"Two bottles o' Bass, gov'nor," responded Millwaters promptly, dropping into colloquial Cockney speech. He turned to Perkwite and winked. "Well, an' wot abaht this 'ere bit o' business as I've come rahnd abaht, Mister?" he went on, nudging his companion, in free-and-easy style.
"You're a pretty good hand yourself, I think?" suggested the barrister, with a smile. "Ought to be," said Millwaters. "Had plenty of experience, anyway." It seemed to Perkwite that his companion kept no particular observation on the car in front as it sped along to and through the northern edge of the City and beyond.
Perkwite, Lord Ellingham and Viner, and behind a locked door these men looked at each other and at this centre of interest with the air of those to whom something extraordinary has just been told. After a moment of silence Mr. Carless spoke, addressing the man whose story had brought matters to an undeniable crisis.
"There's been another arrival at Number 23 not five minutes since. Another of our little lot!" "Who?" demanded Perkwite. "Viner!" replied Millwaters. "Came peeping and perking along the street, took a glimpse of the premises and the adjacent purlieus, rang at Number 23, and was let in by the party that came with Miss Wickham! Now, whatever can he be doing there, Mr. Perkwite?"
Carless, Lord Ellingham and two men in plain-clothes, at the sight of whom Perkwite heaved a huge sigh of intense relief. Viner was so sure that the sound which he had heard on Mrs. Killenhall's retirement was that caused by the turning of a key or slipping of a lock in the door by which he had entered, that before speaking to Miss Wickham he instantly stepped back and tried it.
"Whatever can any of them be doing there!" muttered Perkwite. "Viner! What business can he have in this place? It seems by George, Millwaters," he suddenly exclaimed, "what if this is some infernal plant trap something of that sort? Do you know, in spite of what you say, I really think we ought to get hold of the nearest police and tell them " "Wait, Mr. Perkwite!" counselled Millwaters.
Perkwite wants to see you about this Ashton affair he says he's something to tell you." Mr. Pawle looked at Viner and beckoned him to follow. "Here a little, and there a little!" he whispered. "What are we going to hear this time?" The man who was waiting in Mr.
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