“I don’t know. I assume that was included in the business, of course. As I couldn’t dream of meeting his figures, we didn’t go into details.”
“Did Crippen?”
“Dunno. I never heard what kind of a discussion they had. But what are you getting at? Why drag in Crippen?”
“Oh, hang it all, Vail, I don’t want to drag in anybody; and yet I’d be willing to drag in anybody, if I had a trace of suspicion against anybody. For, unless a new suspect turns up pretty quick, I’m afraid they’ll pitch on my aunt.”
“Ridiculous!”
“I know it seems so to you and me, for we know Aunt Letitia, but these strangers, this Wise and Miss Zizi, here,” bowing in her direction, “they are already looking——”
“Now, Mr Bates, that’s too bad!” cried Zizi, her black eyes shining with real sympathy, as she saw the young man’s distress. “Please be sure Mr Wise and I never look seriously in any direction unless something definite points us that way. And by elimination not many suspects are left.”
“Who are eliminated?” asked Vail, gravely.
“We have cut out all thought of the chorus girls, and the girls employed in this house,” Zizi began.
“All the house girls?” asked Vail, quickly.