'Was it by any chance,' pursued the doctor, 'a society of some sort, a board of directors' meeting, a gathering of…'
`As a matter of fact,' said Mason, `it was.' He seemed puzzled and his hard eyes grew brighter. `The Antiquarians' Society. We meet for lunch on the first Monday of every month. I don't like the crowd. Gaa-a! Sedentary fossils of the worst type.- I only stay in the organization because you get the benefit of their knowledge, on a doubtful question. Sir Leonard Haldyne — the Keeper of the jewels here drove me up in his car, at noon.'
I suppose your membership in the society is well known?'
`All my friends know of it, if that's what you mean. It seems' to amuse them at the Rag.'
Hadley nodded slowly, contemplating Dr Fell. 'I begin to see what you're driving at. Tell me, General. You and Mr Dalrye were the only people at the Tower whom young Driscoll knew at all well?'
'Ye-es, I suppose so. I think he'd met Sir Leonard, and he had a nodding acquaintance with a number of the warders, but, . ' `But you were the only ones he'd be apt to call on?'
`Probably.'
Dalrye's mouth opened a trifle, and he sat up. Then he sank back into his chair.
`I see, sir. You mean the murderer had made certain both General Mason and I were out?'
The doctor spoke in a testy voice, ringing the ferrule of his cane as he hammered it on the floor: