“Nothing would please me better,” said Baddeley, rubbing his palms together.
“I understand perfectly.” Dennison rose to depart. He had his story and in a few days would have a still better one. “Now for London again.”
“One moment,” cried the Inspector. “One more thing. I would like the bewilderment of the Police to appear in the late edition of your Evening Gazette. That all right? That will be better still.”
“As you wish, Inspector, and thank you. Good-bye!” And in a brief period we heard the sound of his motorcycle en route for headquarters again. Press methods are short and sharp.
Baddeley turned to us and although he addressed us as a company, the feeling persisted in me that Anthony was his audience as far as he himself was concerned.
“That brings me, gentlemen, to the matter of the ‘Spider.’ We’ve got to get him, and we ought to get him at once ... while, I think, the pearls are on him ... before he takes a little trip somewhere.”
“We know where he is?” interjected Sir Charles.
“Yes,” continued Baddeley, “but I don’t purpose going there for him.”
“Where, then?” I interposed.
“Well, this is my plan. Get the ‘Spider’ back here—then take him. It has the merits of simplicity and comfort.” He smiled.