“Ass that I am,” he declared. “You’re bound for the same destination, of course.”
“Now we’re talking,” said Goodall. “The local people down at Assynton have asked ‘the Yard’ to take a look at things down there—just at the very moment, too, when we at ‘the Yard’ were trying to piece the two murders together, somehow! I’m going down. But what about you, Mr. Daventry?”
“I’m representing my firm—Mr. Stewart’s son has asked me to run down.”
“How about a nice compartment, then, with a couple of corner seats? This train isn’t a ‘corridor,’ worse luck.”
“Well—as a matter of fact”—temporized Peter—“I’m waiting for somebody!”
Goodall instantly became all interest. “Really? I had no idea—you wish to be alone?”
Peter denied the idea strenuously—feeling all the time that he was heading straight for the Valley of Suspicion again. “Not at all. Only too pleased to travel with you, Inspector. I’m sure my friend will be——”
“Delighted,” said Anthony Bathurst. “Introduce me, Daventry, will you?”
Peter accepted the invitation gladly. He was downright pleased that Bathurst had turned up when he did. This fellow Goodall seemed to know a jolly sight more about a chap than was thoroughly comfortable. He was curious to see how Anthony Bathurst would be affected by Detective-Inspector Goodall. He made the introduction.
“I am honored,” remarked Bathurst. “Scotland Yard must consider the Assynton Lodge murder as extremely ‘difficult’ for it to engage the attention of Inspector Goodall.”