General Mason looked pained, and Arbor lifted the shiny grey hat from his lap and indicated the gloves.
`I was all the way to the Strand in my cab before I remembered, and I returned. It was about twenty minutes to three when I arrived, and then I couldn't, get out.'
`I hope that cabby isn't still waiting,' the General mused. `It would be unfortunate,' Mr Arbor, if such an unfortunate witness got his head bashed in. Hold on! Wait! I remember now. There s something I wanted to ask, you.'
`With pleasure.' Arbor frowned. `You are…?'
'I'm the man you wanted to see,' the General replied, with some asperity. `I'm the deputy governor of the Tower. And what's more, sir, I'm damned if I let you paw over that Raleigh book. General Sir Ian Hamilton presented that to us. What was I saying? Oh yes. About the Raleigh. You said you had never seen it. Is this your first visit to the Tower?'
'It is.'
`The reason I asked is that you have all the names down pat. You speak familiarly of "Water Lane", and the Green, and all the rest of it, when you didn't go any farther than the Bloody Tower.'
`Perfectly simple,' said, Arbor, with the air of a detective speaking to his dull-witted assistant. `I dislike, asking directions.' From his pocket he produced one of the green pamphlets. `This little guide, with a map, which I studied before entering the Tower at all, gave me a thorough working knowledge.'
Dr Fell pulled at his moustache.
`I've got just one more question, my friend, and then you are free to go. Are you acquainted with Mrs Lester Bitton, your host's sister-in-law?'