"I mean," insisted Spinelli, still watching Dr. Fell, "could you let us talk now — in private? Listen, if Fve got to get out of England in a hurry, then I won't have time to see him…!"
The doctor seemed reluctant, but allowed himself to be persuaded. Murch, who was plainly mystified, agreed. The drawing-room was put at the disposal of Spinelli and Langdon, and they were ushered out by the constable. Langdon stood in the doorway to deliver a little speech, flashing his smile and assuring them that he would be only a few minutes; then he faded out after Spinelli with a rather ghostly effect of disappearance. The door closed.
Inspector Murch watched it close. He swung round on Dr. Fell.
"Well, sir! You'm got some idea in this! What is it? Ah, but now yon pair do have a chance to put their heads together!"
"Yes," agreed the doctor. "Never have I accomplished a design with less trouble. They clamored for it. Gentlemen, the game is getting rapid now, and somebody is going to lose a number of tricks in a very short time. I wonder—"
"Eh, sir?"
"I wonder," said the doctor musingly, and poked at the table with his cane, "whether Spinelli is still wearing his bullet-proof vest? I rather suspect he will find it valuable before long. Steady, now! In the meantime, I want to talk about ladies’
CHAPTER XIV
The Devil and Maw Standish
Uneasily Murch rubbed a hand across his sandy cropped hair. He glanced at the bishop, as though he wondered whether such matters should be discussed in the episcopal presence.