"Pinkus and Donovan; haven't they, Carroll?"
"Yep." Carroll was too much engaged in watching the blue smoke curl lazily upward from his cigar just then to say more.
"Like to talk with 'em about it?" went on Thong, in friendlier tones.
"If they're here, yes."
"I think they just came in," said Thong, bringing his feet down with a bang from the table on which he had had them elevated. "Are you going to work on that case, Colonel?"
"Oh, no. I was just interested, as Singa Phut was one concerned in
Mrs. Darcy's murder."
"But he hadn't any more to do with it, Colonel, than that cat!" and Carroll pointed to the headquarters cat which was sleeping near a radiator, for the day had turned cold and steam was on in the place.
"Perhaps not," admitted Colonel Ashley. "But there are some peculiar coincidences and, if you don't mind, I'd like to see what I can find out about them."
"Go as far as you like, Colonel," returned Thong, needlessly generous. "We've got our man, and that's all we want. The other isn't our case. Oh, Donovan!" he called, as he saw a fellow sleuth passing through an outer room. "Here's some one to see you," and the presentation was quickly and informally made. The two men had seen each other before, but had not spoken.
"Glad to know you, Colonel Ashley," said Donovan. "I've read a lot about you. You're on the Darcy case, they tell me."