Hadley stiffened. He laid down the pencil quietly, but there were tight muscles down the line of his jaw.
`Just so,' he said quietly. `What then?'
`I waited. It was getting foggier, and it had started to rain, and I got impatient. Then the phone in the flat rang, and I answered it.
`It was Parker, telling me what I've just told you. He had called once before to get me, but I was at the garage and hadn't arrived. Phil was waiting for me at the Tower, in a hell of a stew. Parker said he wasn't drunk, and I thought somebody had gone mad. But there was nothing to do but return; I had to do that, anyway. I Hurried over to get the car, and when I was leaving the garage I met the General…. '
`You also,' inquired Hadley, glancing up, `were in town, General?'
Mason was gloomily regarding his shoes. He looked up with a somewhat satiric expression.
`It would seem so. I had a luncheon engagement, and afterwards I went to the British Museum to pick up some books they had for me. As Dalrye says, it began to rain, so of course there weren't any taxis. Then I remembered the car would probably be at Stapleman's garage or, if it weren't, Stapleman would lend me a car to go back in. It's not far away from the Museum, so I started out. And I saw Dalrye in the car, and hailed him…. I've told you the rest of it. We got here at two-thirty, and found him.'
`Was it a very important luncheon engagement, General Mason?' asked Dr Fell suddenly.
The query was startling in its very naivete, and they all turned to look at him. His round and ruddy face was sunk into his collar, the great white plumed mop of hair straggling over one ear,
The General stared. `I don't think I understand.!