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"Come in and make enquiries," Shopland replied. "I can promise that you will find it interesting. It's a sort of dog's home." Francis followed his companion into the place. A pleasant-looking, middle-aged woman came forward and greeted the latter. "Do you mind telling my friend what you told me the other day?" he asked. "Certainly, sir," she replied.
I am not naturally a gregarious person, but I think I would go so far," he added, with a bow towards Miss Hyslop, "as to say that I prefer the society of young women. Satisfy my curiosity, therefore, I beg of you. For what reason do you suppose that I have been concerned in the disappearance of this Mr. Reginald Wilmore?" Francis opened his lips, but Shopland, with a warning glance, intervened.
Shopland, whose interest in my evening has been unvarying, and whose uninvited company I have been compelled to bear with, and suggested that, as I was on my way back to Curzon Street, he had better come in and have a drink and tell me what it was all about.
Shopland, and I think I can oppose it with success. But I invite you two, Miss Hyslop and Mr. Ledsam, to my party on Thursday night. Once under my roof you shall have carte blanche. You can wander where you please, knock the walls for secret hiding-places, stamp upon the floor for oubliettes.
"Nothing definite, I am sorry, to say," was the other's reluctant admission. Francis hung up his hat, threw himself into his easy-chair and lit a cigarette. "The lad's brother is one of my oldest friends, Shopland," he said. "He is naturally in a state of great distress." The detective scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I said 'nothing definite' just now, sir," he observed.
Would it be too much to ask you now, Mr. Ledsam, for that single minute alone?" "By no means," Francis answered. "I'll wait in the office, if I may," Shopland suggested, rising to his feet. "I want to have another word with you before I go." "My business with Mr. Ledsam is of a family nature," Sir Timothy said apologetically, as Shopland passed out. "I will not keep him for more than a moment."
Ledsam did behave like a gentleman when he came to see me, and Mr. Shopland asked questions civilly. But you " she added, turning round to Sir Timothy. "Hush, my dear," he interrupted, holding out his hand. "Don't abuse me. I am not angry with you not in the least and I am going to prove it. I shall oppose any search warrant which you might apply for, Mr.
I arranged that he should find Miss Hyslop here, and for a person of observation, which I flatter myself to be, it was easy to discover the interesting fact that Mr. Shopland and Miss Daisy Hyslop were not strangers. "Now tell me, young lady," Sir Timothy went on. "You see, I have placed myself entirely in your hands. Never mind the presence of these two gentlemen.
I have watched him very closely on the way here, but I could see no signs of mental aberration. I do not think, at any rate, that he is dangerous." "Sir Timothy," Shopland explained, with some anger in his tone, "declines to take me seriously.
"You have news for me?" he asked. "Yes!" Francis answered. Sir Timothy shrugged his shoulders. He threw himself a little wearily into an easy-chair. His hands strayed out towards a cigarette box. He selected one and lit it. "I expected your friend, Mr. Shopland," he murmured. "I hope he is none the worse for his ducking." "Shopland is a fool," Francis replied.
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