“Oh, yes; the affair was entirely amicable. The whole thing resolved itself into the fact that his Buns were really more cake than bread,—at least, from the American point of view,—and so better adapted to Crippen’s use than to ours.”
“And you came in last night just before Sir Herbert came?”
“So you tell me now. Naturally, I didn’t know he followed me in.”
“Where’d you spend the evening?”
“With a friend, Dr Weldon, in Fifty-first Street.”
“Mind if I call him up and ask him?”
Vail stared at the detective.
“Meaning you’re questioning my veracity, or connecting me with the crime?”
Corson reddened, but stuck to his suggestion. “No, sir, but,—well, you’re the nearest I’ve found to a material witness, and——”
“Well, do you know, it strikes me you don’t know what a material witness is! However, I’ve not the least objection to your calling up my friend,—go to it! Here’s his number.”