I smiled. “They’re still falling for you, Colonel?” I said.
He nodded. “I guess I haven’t much to worry about,” he said.
I glanced at the clock. “I’ve got almost two hours before I pull out,” I said. “How about having lunch with me?”
He slid off the stool. “Sure, I’d be glad to.”
Now that I had met up with him again, a sudden curiosity to file off the rough ends of the Spencer business seized me. When we got seated in a quiet little restaurant not far from the station and had given our order, I got the conversation round to the angle I wanted it to go.
“Colonel,” I said. “You remember the Mackenzie Fabrics trial?”
He Looked at me, and nodded. I wasn’t sure, but I fancied he looked a little taken aback. “Yes, I remember it—caused quite a sensation.”
“Yeah,” I said, “I was in that business right up to my neck.”
“You were?”
“Yeah. I’d like to tell you about it, because I think you could finish the tale off for me.”