"Will he be back soon?"
"I don't know."
Applebee scratched his head; he had come to the end of his resources in that quarter.
"Do you want him for anything particular?" inquired Aunt Rob, anxiously.
"Not for anything very particular."
"Perhaps you'll leave a message."
"No, thank you," said Applebee, feeling as if he was being badgered, and repeated, "It's nothing very particular." Then he walked away.
"They're all in a plot together," he mused. "I don't half like the way she answered me. She never took her eyes off my face. He's gone off to get rid of the jewellery. I'll keep my eye on Catchpole Square. There's a chance of his coming back for something he left behind. If he does, I'll nab him."
The longer he brooded upon it the stronger grew his conviction of Dick's complicity in the crime, and the more firmly was he resolved to make the arrest when he had the chance. Little did he dream of the kind of success that was to attend his zealous efforts and the startling developments which were to follow.